By Ken Zino
The results of the New Hampshire GOP primary were nothing new. It confirmed the rematch of President Biden versus the 91-count indicted, defeated ex-President Trump. Now, the Republicans can scuffle with each other over who will be their vice-presidential candidate. Yawn. The main event will be the competent and winning Biden-Harris Democratic ticket versus Captain Chaos and his sinking ship, the SS Insurrectionist, which is running out of steam.
Significant here in my view is the weakness of Donald J. Trump. “This race is far from over,” Nikki Haley said Tuesday night. She managed a relatively strong showing against the person who allegedly has a grip on the Republican Party. (Haley received 133,017, or 43.3%, of the vote. Trump got 167,210 for 54.5%). There is a significant number of members of the Grand Old Party who think the party is over for above-the-law King Donald.
A divided party in the primaries historically -- study history, don’t ban it -- has a tough time in the general election. Take Gerald Ford “the Pardon Watergate Nixon and play golf for life” guy who lost in 1976. George H.W. Bush lost the White House in 1992 after Pat Buchanan took 37% in the New Hampshire primary. Bush won the Republican presidential nomination. Clinton defeated him with 370 electoral votes to Bush’s 168, ending three straight terms of Republican control of the presidency. Don’t read my lips here. Listen to the Republican outcry against Trump.
Freedom Message
Biden-Harris and their newly expanded reelection campaign staff of Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Mike Donilon who just transferred from their White House roles to leadership of the reelection staff are already accelerating the freedom message (https://youtu.be/ChjibtX0UzU) – freedom of choice, freedom to vote, freedom from political violence and chaos. These are the demonstrated policy and positions of Democratic candidates with vast foreign policy experience who can point to a growing economy that is uplifting all. They support and can advance reproductive rights and gun control regulations. They want to make the wealthy two-percenters pay their share of taxes. Biden-Harris addressed climate change and are rebuilding and expanding the infrastructure. They are also bringing Wi-Fi to rural economies, not just cities. Neither has an indictment or conviction on their record.
Biden-Harris beat Trump before. In Iowa roughly as many Republicans in total voted against Trump as voted for him. The same applies to New, err Old Hampshire. Biden-Harris can win again. Let them get on with amplifying the policy and positions that matter to the many Republicans (in name only?) who are unhappy with Trump. “If Donald Trump is our opponent, we can expect vile attacks, endless lies, and massive spending,” the reelection campaign website https://joebiden.com/ says.
“Stand up for our personal freedom. Stand up for the right to vote and our civil rights,” President Biden says in his campaign video.
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TUESDAY 1/23/24
Biden Wins New Hampshire
Although he was not on the ballot, President Biden won New Hampshire’s Democratic primary Tuesday as a write-in with 66,081 votes, or 56.6%, according to The Hill’s Decision Desk HQ. In addition, “Write-In” took another 18,284 votes, or 15.7%.
This would be a good spot to note that Donald J. Trump beat Nikki Haley in the Republican primary by 34,054 votes.
Biden was not on the ballot because his campaign wanted the February 3 South Carolina primary to be first on his party’s calendar, ahead of Iowa as well as New Hampshire. Decision Desk HQ notes that the Biden campaign’s write-in campaign encouraged voters to write in anything indicating the president, including “Joe and Kamala” or even a misspelling like “Bidon.”
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) took second place, with 23,498 votes, or 20.1% and author Marianne Williamson got 4,746 votes, or 4.1% and just ahead of “Other” at 4,192 votes or 3.6.%.