President Biden’s return to New Hampshire after nearly two years has stirred up mixed emotions among Democrats in the state. Steve Shurtleff, a longtime Democratic state representative, expressed forgiveness but not forgetfulness regarding the treatment New Hampshire received from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) when it was bumped from its traditional role as the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state. Shurtleff, a strong Biden supporter dating back to 1988, broke with the president last year over this decision.
Despite the controversy, Biden’s name was kept off the ballot in New Hampshire’s primary, and he won easily thanks to a write-in effort by the state’s Democratic establishment leaders. Shurtleff, who campaigned for one of Biden’s challengers, now appears to be leaning towards supporting Biden in the general election rematch against former President Trump. He expressed concern about another Trump presidency and stated that he would likely vote for Biden.
New Hampshire has been a key state in both primary and general elections, holding the first presidential primary for a century. Biden’s visit to the state is part of his tour of swing states following his State of the Union address. He aims to highlight his administration’s efforts to lower costs for American families, particularly amid soaring inflation. During his stop in Goffstown, New Hampshire, Biden is expected to propose extending Medicare’s cap on out-of-pocket drug costs and a cost cap for insulin to the commercial market. He will also call on Congress to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and make permanent improvements to the Affordable Care Act.
Biden’s visit to New Hampshire is his first since April 2022, and it appears to be an effort to mend any hard feelings from the primary season. Kathy Sullivan, a former New Hampshire Democratic Party chair, believes that the combination of support for Biden’s policies and the need to defeat Trump will lead to a strong turnout for Biden in the general election.
Trump narrowly lost New Hampshire to Hillary Clinton in 2016, but he won the state’s GOP presidential primary by 11 points in January. Some progressive activists in New Hampshire believe that Biden is a weak candidate and predict that Trump will make the state highly competitive in November. However, others argue that the Democratic base will support Biden despite the primary controversy because the stakes are too high.
Overall, Biden’s visit to New Hampshire serves as an opportunity for him to make his case to voters and rally support ahead of the general election. The state’s significance in both primary and general elections makes it a crucial battleground for both parties.
