New Hampshire: Bernie Sanders takes primary as Joe Biden falters
12 February, 2020
US Senator Bernie Sanders declared victory in New Hampshire's Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, building momentum as your competition heads West to Nevada.
The progressive senator beat rival former mayor of the Indiana town of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, solidifying his front-runner status in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The 78-year old Vermont senator secured 25.8 per cent of the vote with 77 % of votes counted, compared to 24.2 per cent for Mr Buttigieg.
Mr Sanders' supporters jeered Mr Buttigieg as he gave an interview to CNN chanting "Wall Street Pete".
Mr Sanders rolled to victory in the next contest in the race to pick a challenger to Republican President Donald Trump, fending off attacks from rivals who warned his far-left views would lead the party to defeat in the November 3 election.
Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar looked set to finish third with heavyweights Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Bidden falling behind. The results pile pressure on Mr Biden to end his race as early indications from Iowa and today New Hampshire indicate that he simply does not have widespread public support.
Mr Bidden came a distant fifth with just 8.6 per cent, behind Ms Warren at 9.5 % of the vote.
In a surprise move, Mr Biden left the granite state in early stages Tuesday before polls closed, going to South Carolina, that could bring life to his bid if he wins there on February 29.
Mr Biden's decline has generated a path for former Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg to compete for the moderate vote in Super Tuesday states on March 3.
Mr Bloomberg, a late entrant to the race who's skipping the first four contests, did not have his name on the ballot for the brand new Hampshire primary.
But that didn't stop voters in the mountain hamlet of Dixville Notch from picking the billionaire as a write-in applicant when they voted just after midnight on Tuesday.
He won three of the five ballots cast.
Andrew Yang, 45, an entrepreneur and the only Asian-American applicant in the race, dropped from Tuesday after disappointing projections.
“The math just didn’t workout,” said Zach Graumann, Mr Yang's campaign manager.
Colorado Senator Michael Bennet also dropped right out of the race on Tuesday.
Massachusetts' Patrick Deval is likely to suspend his campaign ahead of announcing his withdrawal.
New Hampshire may be the second contest of the US presidential party nominating cycle. While few votes are available, it gives candidates an opportunity to build momentum for his or her campaigns.
The Democrats would like clarity in New Hampshire following the Iowa vote descended into chaos the other day, with the front-runners emerging neck and neck after a days-long delay in the count.
Most polling stations closed by 7pm local time and a handful of votes have been counted from small towns that voted after midnight on Monday, although the entire primary results are not expected until at least 9:30pm local time.
The state of Nevada will vote next on February 22.
Source: www.thenational.ae