In the New Hampshire Democratic primary, President Joe Biden, who did not campaign in the state, won a landslide victory as a write-in candidate. Despite finishing fifth in the state’s 2020 primary, Biden received over two-thirds of the vote in the primary, surpassing expectations. The write-in campaign was organized by New Hampshire Democrats who wanted to save Biden from a weak finish. The victory showcases Biden’s support in New Hampshire and across the country.
On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump won a comfortable victory against his only remaining prominent challenger, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley. However, Haley’s strong performance and increasingly aggressive anti-Trump rhetoric suggest that she will remain in the race and continue to criticize Trump. While Trump is expected to secure the GOP nomination, his divisive and embittered campaign may struggle to unite Republican voters in swing states like New Hampshire.
Biden’s victory in the primary, along with the dissatisfaction expressed by 38% of Republican primary voters towards Trump, gives him a chance to pick up support from swing voters in the general election. The president’s support for abortion rights could be a significant issue in a race against Trump, who has appointed anti-choice justices to the Supreme Court. Only 27% of Republican primary voters in New Hampshire favored a federal abortion ban, suggesting that Biden’s stance could resonate with voters in swing states. Haley acknowledged that the Democrats see Trump as the only Republican candidate Biden can defeat.
Overall, Biden’s unexpected victory in the New Hampshire primary as a write-in candidate demonstrates his support among Democrats in the state and the potential for him to gain support from swing voters in the general election. The Republican primary results also indicate potential challenges for Trump in unifying his party and appealing to swing voters. Biden’s support for abortion rights could be a key issue in a race against Trump, given the opposition to a federal abortion ban among Republican primary voters.
