The state is friendly territory for the senator from neighboring Vermont and a must-win if he’s to stay competitive with Clinton as the race moves to more diverse states that are seen as more hospitable to the former secretary of state.
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Maggie Hassan/Jeanne Shaheen: The sitting governor and the state’s Democratic senator were high profile endorsers and surrogates for Clinton in New Hampshire.
Mr Trump has led national polls for months and the New Hampshire victory reinforces his position as front-runner, proving he can win votes, and giving credibility to his upstart populist candidacy.
The real race was who would finish second among Republican candidates. However, Tuesday’s vote did little to clarify who that candidate might be. After a second place finish behind Cruz in Iowa last week, he accepted some of the more traditional trappings of presidential campaigns, including smaller town halls with voters. Ohio Governor John Kasich came second in the Republican race, with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Mr Cruz still vying for third place. Despite the best spin of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Sanders’ win wasn’t simply about the fact that he represents a neighboring state. Marco Rubio’s poor debate performance on Saturday night. On the other hand, Texas Senator Ted Cruz told his supporters that he had exceeded expectations in New Hampshire, a state in which he did not poll well.
Three other Republican candidates polled in single digits.
Voters were deeply unhappy with the federal government, with half of Democratic voters saying they’re dissatisfied with the way government is working and another 1 in 10 saying they’re angry.
Meanwhile, voters in the Republican party picked the billionaire businessman Donald Trump. Trump also burst back onto TV there beginning Tuesday.
Among Democrats, Mr Sanders, who narrowly lost in Iowa, had maintained a sizeable advantage over Mrs Clinton in New Hampshire for weeks. He has appealed to liberal Democrats who believe Obama hasn’t done enough to address the nation’s disparity in wealth.
“Together we have sent the message that will echo form Wall Street to Washington, from ME to California”. “As a public servant, it requires me to do all that I can to ensure that every person lives with dignity and security”. Asked which of the two Democratic candidates had those qualities, half said only Sanders had them, and almost all of those people voted for him.
“A Democrat who is unable to inspire strong levels of support in minority communities will have no credible path to winning the presidency in the general election”, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a memo released as the polls closed.
While Mr Sanders’ victory means he is assured of a majority of the state’s pledged delegates, Mrs Clinton remains ahead in the overall delegate count due to support from super-delegates – party officials who can support the candidate of their choice at the convention.
Populism won tonight in New Hampshire. But it will not be much of a lead.
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Drop This Fact: Iowa historically is a good gauge for the country’s next leader – only one presidential candidate since 1980 (Bill Clinton) has gone on to win without taking the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, or both, according to Vox. Mr Trump will win at least nine.
