“New Hampshire’s Primary Dispute with DNC Raises Concerns for Biden’s Election.”
In defiance of pressure from national Democrats and risking potential penalties, the state of New Hampshire is adhering to tradition by maintaining its position as the initial battleground for presidential primaries. This ongoing dispute, spanning nearly a year between New Hampshire and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), reached a climax when Secretary of State Dave Scanlan announced the date for the first-in-the-nation primary to be January 23. Despite this decision putting the state at odds with the DNC’s 2024 presidential nominating calendar, New Hampshire is now susceptible to facing sanctions, potentially losing half of its delegates for the upcoming national convention.
President Biden’s decision to abstain from the New Hampshire ballot due to the unsanctioned primary has prompted Granite State Democrats to initiate a write-in campaign, aiming to prevent any electoral embarrassment for his reelection bid. Governor Chris Sununu criticized the DNC’s attempts to disrupt New Hampshire’s longstanding role in the primary process, emphasizing the dissatisfaction among citizens, particularly independents and Democrats, feeling sidelined by the national party.
The dispute underscores a broader issue within the Democratic Party, with longstanding criticisms aimed at Iowa and New Hampshire for their lack of diversity compared to states like Nevada and South Carolina. Efforts to diversify the early states’ electorate prompted Biden’s proposed calendar changes, aiming to empower minority voters and address the party’s reliance on their support.
Compliance with the DNC’s requirements would have entailed scrapping New Hampshire’s state law protecting its primary status and expanding early voting access, an action firmly opposed by the Republican-held governor’s office and legislature. Scanlan justified the chosen date by highlighting compliance with the state statute and preserving the traditional Iowa caucus position.
Scanlan and other state officials dismissed the DNC’s argument of racial diversity as the real reason for the conflict, framing it as an attempt by national elites to control the nomination process. Despite threats of sanctions from the DNC, New Hampshire officials remain resolute in upholding their state law and tradition, emphasizing their commitment to the average citizen on Main Street.
The ongoing debate and the president’s absence from the primary ballot in New Hampshire have raised concerns among locals regarding potential setbacks for Biden in the state. While Biden remains the frontrunner for the nomination, speculation regarding his age and preferences among Democrats for a second term persist, reflecting potential challenges for his reelection bid. Nevertheless, some local Democrats believe that after the nomination is secured, Biden will resume campaigning in New Hampshire.
