Polls suggest that President Joe Biden may not face significant challenges in this month’s New Hampshire Democratic primary. However, voters like 24-year-old college student Tim Fitzpatrick could influence a different outcome. Fitzpatrick, who supported Biden in the 2020 election, finds himself disenchanted with the president’s support for fossil fuel projects and his unfulfilled promises regarding student loan relief. Moreover, Fitzpatrick harbors concerns about Biden’s age and whether the 81-year-old has the energy for another term. Despite not fully aligning with the centrist views of Dean Phillips, a lesser-known congressman from Minnesota, Fitzpatrick prefers him over Biden. “Phillips and I might not share the same political views, but I see him as a preferable option compared to Biden,” Fitzpatrick expressed regarding his shift in support. Polls show deep concerns among voters about his age, and that Biden would struggle to beat top Republican rival Donald Trump in a rematch of 2020. A stronger-than-expected New Hampshire showing by Democratic long shots, who include Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson, would fuel those doubts.
Quick Read
- President Joe Biden’s Political Strength: New Hampshire’s Democratic primary on January 23 serves as an early test of Biden’s political strength since his 2020 election victory.
- Concerns Over Biden’s Age and Energy: Some voters, including former supporters like Tim Fitzpatrick, express reservations about Biden’s age (81) and vigor for a second term, along with dissatisfaction over certain policy decisions.
- Dean Phillips as an Alternative: Congressman Dean Phillips, offering a centrist stance, emerges as an alternative for voters disenchanted with Biden, despite ideological differences.
- Unsanctioned Primary: The New Hampshire primary is unsanctioned due to the state’s refusal to relinquish its first-in-the-nation status to South Carolina, as demanded by Biden.
- Write-in Campaign for Biden: Despite officially skipping the primary, a well-funded write-in campaign is underway to support Biden.
- Polls Show Biden Leading: A University of New Hampshire poll indicates a strong lead for Biden among likely primary voters, with Phillips and Marianne Williamson trailing significantly.
- Voter Uncertainty: Interviews with New Hampshire Democrats and independents reveal a considerable number of undecided voters or those leaning towards Phillips or Williamson.
- Marianne Williamson’s Campaign: Williamson, known for her spirituality-focused approach, campaigns on a platform of “justice and love,” advocating for a Department of Peace and economic justice.
- Phillips’ Campaign Struggles: Phillips faces challenges in gaining traction among voters, with low attendance at campaign events and difficulties in engaging the public.
- Phillips’ Platform and Strategy: His campaign focuses on financial initiatives for newborns, balanced federal budgets, and education affordability, while questioning Biden’s electability against Trump.
- Biden Campaign’s Response: The Biden campaign anticipates increased support during a direct matchup with Trump, expecting Democrats to rally around Biden closer to the election.
- Voter Sentiment: Despite concerns, some Democrats acknowledge they might support Biden as a preferable alternative to Trump in the general election.
Reuters has the story:
Biden’s age pushes some New Hampshire voters to Phillips, Williamson
Newslooks- MANCHESTER, New Hampshire, Jan 11 (Reuters) –
Polling shows President Joe Biden is unlikely to suffer a setback in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary this month – but if he does, it will be because of voters like Tim Fitzpatrick.
A supporter of Biden in 2020, Fitzpatrick, a 24-year old college student, is not energized by Democratic candidate Dean Phillips’ centrist politics.
But he is fed up with Biden’s backing of fossil fuel projects and failure to secure promised student loan relief, and has deep concerns about whether the 81-year-old president has the vigor for a second term.
“I wouldn’t say Phillips and I are politically aligned, but it’s better than Biden,” Fitzpatrick said about his decision to back Phillips, a little-known three-term congressman from Minnesota.
New Hampshire’s unsanctioned Jan. 23 Democratic primary offers the first test of Biden’s political strength since his win in 2020.
Polls show deep concerns among voters about his age, and that Biden would struggle to beat top Republican rival Donald Trump in a rematch of 2020. A stronger-than-expected New Hampshire showing by Democratic long shots, who include Phillips and self-help guru Marianne Williamson, would fuel those doubts.
It is an unusual contest. Biden is officially skipping the New Hampshire primary after the state refused his demand to cede its first-in-the-nation primary status to more-diverse South Carolina, but top Democrats are mounting a well-funded write-in campaign.
Political pundits predict Biden to win New Hampshire easily with the write-in campaign. Voter interviews suggest a wide margin of victory is not guaranteed.
Reuters interviewed more than two dozen New Hampshire Democrats and independents this week who said they planned to vote in the January primary. A large majority said they were undecided or voting for Phillips or Williamson.
A University of New Hampshire poll this week showed Biden with a dominating lead of 69% among likely primary voters in the state, with Phillips at 7% and Williamson at 6%.
“Biden’s age is a real problem for me because 80-year olds start having real mental energy problems,” said Dale Coy, 70, a local blogger who teaches on online course at a New Jersey college. He expects to back Phillips.
Williamson, 71, launched her second bid for the White House on a platform of “justice and love” last year. She won admirers in a short 2020 bid with a spirituality-focused campaign that promoted a politics of conscience.
Her platform includes a Department of Peace and economic justice agenda to repair damage done by “trickle-down economics.”
NOT CATCHING FIRE
There was little sign this week that Phillips is catching fire in the Granite State. His campaign events did not draw large crowds; a van hired to bring journalists along as the candidate dashed between Manchester and Nashua was largely empty.
The biggest crowd he drew was at a debate with Williamson in ballroom of a Manchester hotel. A large portion of the attendees were high school students on a field trip who are younger than 18, the U.S. voting age.
On Tuesday in Manchester, Phillips parked his “Government Repair Truck” outside, planning to talk to voters while handing out coffee. Not one voter showed up.
“Sometimes, if you build it, they don’t come,” Phillips said, a reference to 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams.
Phillips, 54, plans to hold New Hampshire town halls, house parties and blitz the airwaves with ads questioning Biden’s viability in coming weeks.
His platform includes giving newborns $1,000 to invest, balanced federal budgets and taxing endowments at wealthy universities to help middle-class Americans afford an education.
So far, he has made Biden’s poll numbers a central theme, arguing the party uses strong-arm tactics to block viable competitors, which will only benefit Trump – whom he calls the most dangerous politician in U.S.
“I believe you’re complicit if you knowingly go into a race where you’re likely to lose and you suppress the potential of other candidates,” Phillips said during a Reuters interview at his campaign headquarters in Manchester.
The Biden campaign says polls showing a lack of enthusiasm will shift when the race becomes a one-on-one matchup with Trump, pushing jittery Democrats home to Biden in November.
Dissatisfied Democrats in New Hampshire concede that is likely.
“It’s probably more true than I would like it to be, unfortunately. It’s obvious he’s better than Trump, so it’s kind of like hold your nose,” Fitzpatrick said.
