by Approximately 100 feet of trestle barrier lined the entrance to Hillside High School here in Manchester, NH, unintentionally highlighting the divide in the New Hampshire Democratic primary.
At one end, closest to the parking lot, was Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, the only Democratic candidate challenging President Biden. He was surrounded by about a half-dozen staff members and volunteers vigorously waving signs.
At the other end were two members of the local Manchester Democrats, proudly holding signs encouraging voters to write in Joe Biden, who is not on the ballot after a standoff over his effort to strip New Hampshire of its first primary in the country. state.
Julie Swant, 84, swinging a “Biden in writing” sign on the back of the fence, changed her cheerful disposition as she waved to voters to glare at the mere mention of Phillips’ name.
“We love Joe Biden. “We were just chatting about how much he has done, and it is a lot,” he said. His partner and neighbor, Jim Webber, 68, nodded in agreement.
Back at the other end of the fence, Phillips continued greeting voters for about an hour, having arrived just as polls opened at 7 a.m. ET and taking only a brief break for a radio interview on the station. The calm (and warmth) of His SUV approached voters as if he were a stranger to them, even when flanked by multiple signs bearing his name.
“Good day!” Phillips shouted to voters as they entered the polls around 7:30 a.m., his hand extended for a handshake. “Do you know who I am?”
However, fans flocked to give them long handshakes, and Phillips held them for 15 seconds or more. Poll workers briefly came out eager to take a photo with a candidate, bringing their own disposable camera to take a photo.
Some voters, like Richard Valley, 53, who works in retail management and lives in Manchester, earned a hug.
“Joe Biden simply needs to go. It’s time to retire,” Valley said (although he added that he would vote for Biden instead of Trump).
In an interview, Phillips called that day “the most joyful, wonderful day I think I’ve ever had in my life to be a part of this.”
He dismissed any concerns that his presence in the race and his criticism of Biden’s age were dividing the Democratic Party ahead of a critical election. “What concerns me is the fact that we are crowning a candidate who simply cannot win.”
And he sought to clarify his flirtation with a career Without Labels. “I have made it very clear: I am a Democrat. “I am a lifelong Democrat who defeated a Republican seat that had been red for 60 years.”
But, he added, “if it’s Biden versus Trump, we need some alternative way to attract Trump votes and win this election.”
“I’m trying to keep people’s minds open to a candidate without labels who would take votes away from Trump. That wouldn’t be me. That’s the thing,” Mr. Phillips said.
