President Joe Biden has chosen to steer clear of active campaigning in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary, a departure from the traditional presidential nominating contest order, as reported by Fox News on December 5, 2023.
According to The Los Angeles Times, this decision stems from a strategic move to avoid potential embarrassment, given the president’s facing challenges such as declining poll numbers, particularly among young people and voters of color.
In defiance of official Democratic National Committee (DNC) norms, the significance of the New Hampshire primary lies in its role as a crucial test for an incumbent president navigating formidable electoral headwinds.
Democratic leaders and activists have rallied to encourage voters to write in Biden’s name on the New Hampshire ballot, solidifying his position in a contest that, by traditional standards, would no longer hold importance.
To avoid the sting of humiliation, the report continued, Democratic elected officials, party leaders and activists have spent the past several weeks encouraging voters to write in Biden’s name on the New Hampshire ballot.
Firmly ensconcing the incumbent president in a contest that’s no longer supposed to matter.
Recent polling from The New York Times adds fuel to the fire, indicating that former President Donald Trump holds substantial leads over President Biden in five of the six key battleground states.
With a commanding 10-point lead in Nevada, a six-point lead in Georgia, and notable leads in Arizona, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Biden’s sole lead is in Wisconsin, where he maintains a modest two-point advantage.
Concerns extend beyond poll numbers, as prominent Democrats warn of a rapid decline in support among young voters.
Nate Cohn, chief political analyst at The New York Times, highlighted Biden’s low approval rating even within his own party.
The dissent is evident among young Democrats, especially those of color, signaling potential challenges for the incumbent president.
Mr. Biden has just a 76-20 lead among young voters either registered as Democrats or who have previously voted in a Democratic primary, he wrote.
It’s just a 69-24 lead among young nonwhite Democrats. The dissent exists among self-identified Democrats, Democratic-leaners, Biden ’20 voters, and so on.
Opponents of Biden have seized on this political vulnerability, with figures like Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and self-help author Marianne Williamson campaigning in New Hampshire.
Political science professor Dante Scala at the University of New Hampshire suggests that Biden is hoping for the New Hampshire primary to pass with minimal attention, acknowledging the concerns about the president’s age within the Democratic base.
For Biden, in some ways I think he would rather see the whole primary go by as quietly as possible, Scala said.
There are really large concerns about Biden’s age and so forth among Democrats, no question about it. If there was a serious alternative, it would be a different sort of race.
Former state Democratic Party chair Kathy Sullivan expressed frustration at Biden’s decision not to officially campaign in New Hampshire but cautioned against overlooking the bigger picture.
Sullivan emphasized the urgency of preventing the return of Trump or a similar candidate, urging supporters to prioritize the future of democracy and the country over personal grievances.
You have to put aside your anger and frustration at the process and say, ‘What’s the best way of keeping Trump out of the White House, or some other MAGA-type person? Sullivan said.
That’s to reelect Joe Biden, Sullivan said. He’s our guy and he’s done a good job.
She continued: One thing you hear a lot from the write-in Biden people is don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.
This is about the future of our democracy, the future of our country, so suck it up and do what the best thing is for the country, the best thing is for democracy and, frankly, the best thing is for the New Hampshire primary.
While the Biden campaign has not provided an official response to these developments, the unconventional approach to the New Hampshire primary reflects a strategic effort to navigate a challenging political landscape and maintain focus on broader electoral goals.
