Why New Hampshire Democrats Exclude Joe Biden from Primary Ballot

New Hampshire Democrats are currently holding their state primary, but one notable absence from the ballot is President Joe Biden. This decision was made by the Democratic Party, who determined that South Carolina should be the first state to vote in the primary. However, since New Hampshire refused to move its primary, the party chose to strip the state of its delegates. As a result, Biden is relying on a write-in effort to avoid the possibility of an embarrassing loss to Democratic congressman Dean Phillips. While most of the attention has been focused on the Republican primary, the Democratic primary is still underway, despite the internal disagreement within the party and the lack of delegates for the winner. New Hampshire has historically been the first primary in the nation, but the Democratic National Committee’s decision to prioritize South Carolina in 2024 led to this situation. According to the committee, South Carolina’s more diverse population better represents the country as a whole. Nevertheless, New Hampshire’s constitutional requirement to hold the first primary forced the state to forfeit its delegates. In line with the party’s decision, Biden chose not to register for the primary, leaving him potentially vulnerable to Phillips, who is self-funding his challenge against Biden. Phillips contends that the 81-year-old Biden is a weak candidate who may lose to Donald Trump in the fall. The Minnesota congressman, who assumed office in 2019, also emphasizes that repeating the same mistakes made in 2016 would be unforgivable and shameful. Despite his moderate stance, Phillips is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, inheriting the wealth of his stepfather’s Phillips Distilling Company, which owns major schnapps and liquor brands. He has invested heavily in New Hampshire, spending over $5 million on advertisements, while Biden has only spent $156,000. However, Biden still has allies in New Hampshire who are encouraging voters to write his name on the ballot, potentially leading to his victory. Recent polling conducted by CNN and the University of New Hampshire reveals that the president enjoys a significant lead, even under these peculiar circumstances. The survey shows that 63% of likely Democratic primary voters intend to write in Biden’s name. Nevertheless, Phillips is not the sole Democratic challenger in New Hampshire. Marianne Williamson, a 71-year-old author and motivational speaker, is another longshot contender in the primary. Additionally, activists are promoting the inclusion of “ceasefire” on the ballots instead of Biden’s name due to his support for Israel. Although candidates will not receive delegates from campaigning in New Hampshire, as these are necessary to secure the nomination, the apparent strategy is to underscore Biden’s weakness among voters and advocate for a shift towards another candidate. Phillips argues that competition is vital to democracy and warns against coronations, echoing a sentiment expressed by Republican candidate Nikki Haley. Ultimately, his message emphasizes the importance of running for something rather than merely taking down opponents, and he encourages more Democrats to do the same.