Joe Biden wins write-in vote in New Hampshire
Joe Biden won an unusual Democratic write-in vote in New Hampshire's primary election on Tuesday, an important display of political strength, despite his name not being on the ballot.
Edison Research projected Biden the winner over two Democrats whose names were actually on the ballot — U.S. Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson.
The victory for the incumbent president was the end product of a fervent write-in campaign orchestrated by New Hampshire Democrats, who were troubled by the national party's decision to send the state's first-in-the-nation primary election to more diverse South Carolina.
At an watch party by organizers of the write-in campaign, some in the audience booed when the speakers noted that New Hampshire's proud tradition of vetting Democratic candidates had been ended by the Democratic National Committee. But the crowd cheered when it appeared Biden was going to do well.
«Based on the preliminary numbers we're seeing, it looks like it's going to be really, really big victory and a great night for Joe Biden,» said Donna Soucy, state Senate Democratic leader and a write-in campaign advocate.
Biden had 73% of the vote with 31% of the write-in counted, while Phillips had about 20%.
The 55-year Democrat had said in the days leading up to Election Day that he would continue his campaign. He has argued that Biden is weak and unelectable and vulnerable to defeat by the likely Republican nominee, Donald Trump.
Biden supported the move by national Democrats to move their first primary election to South Carolina.
Whether his victory will be seen as sufficiently strong will probably be debated by his
