Live from New Hampshire: Sanders edges Buttigieg, Klobuchar surges By Luke Perry
The results in New Hampshire are in and they largely matched expectations here on the ground.
Bernie Sanders won, as predicted, securing 25 percent of the vote. This was a steady, though not robust, victory in a crowded field.
Photo by Luke Perry
Pete Buttigieg, finished second as expected, building on his victory in Iowa, and within striking distance of Sanders at 24 percent.
Amy Klobuchar, leapfrogged the fading candidacies of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren with 19 percent. This was not a surprise following her well-received debate performance on Friday.
There were 24 delegates at stake. They will be allocated proportionally in relative equal fashion between the top three candidates. The others did not receive delegates after failing to meet the 15 percent threshold.
Biden left New Hampshire before his watch party and gave a speech before supporters in South Carolina, emphasizing how 99 percent of African-Americans and Latinos have yet to vote in the primary.
This was a bold move for someone running on fumes. Nevada and South Carolina, the next two primary states, have much larger minority populations than Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden is poised to do better provided his campaign does not implode.
Photo by Luke Perry
Exit polls indicated that Sanders did particularly well with voters who were younger, very liberal, and for whom inequality was paramount. He was weaker with voters who were older, more moderate, and who viewed foreign policy as the top issue.
Buttiegig benefited from late deciders breaking strongly in his direction and voters who were more affluent, and prioritized climate change and foreign policy. He was weaker with Sanders’ base: younger, very liberal voters who prioritized inequality.
Klobuchar did particularly well with older, more moderate, more religious voters as well as college graduates. She was weaker with less affluent and younger voters who had made up their mind some time ago.
Photo by Luke Perry
It was a strong showing for the more moderate candidates, who fell short of winning, but secured 44 percent of vote, and filling two of the three top spots.
Buttigieg continues to lead the overall estimated delegate count with 22. Sanders has 21, followed by Warren (8), Klobuchar (7) and Biden (6).
1,990 delegates are needed to secure the nomination, illustrating that while Iowa and New Hampshire are significant, given their position at the outset of the primary calendar, there is a long way to go.
The race now shifts to Nevada, the site of the next debate on February 19, and primary, election on February 22.
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College reporting from Manchester, New Hampshire
