×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

Alienated Republicans endorsing Biden

By Casey Junkins - City Editor | Jan 7, 2020

NASHUA – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is racking up support from Republicans alienated by President Donald Trump ahead of New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation (#FITN) primary, as former U.S. Sen. Gordon Humphrey and former first lady Dorothy Peterson are endorsing Biden.

Meanwhile, Biden’s rivals Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar showcase support from more liberal Granite State politicians.

Five weeks from today, Feb. 11, Granite State voters will get to play a major role in determining the Democratic presidential 2020 nominee. The most recent poll specific to New Hampshire shows that 2016 winner, Sanders, is in the lead, with Biden closely trailing him.

Biden and Humphrey were in opposite parties when they simultaneously served served in the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1990. However, Humphrey said President Donald Trump in no way represents the values of the Republican Party that he knew during his time in office.

“For the sake of our national security, it’s urgent we replace President Trump in November,” Humphrey said on Monday. “President Trump has jeopardized our international alliances, and what we need now more than ever is strong, steady leadership, not government by tantrums and tweets. I am confident that Joe Biden will restore calm and rationality to the White House and rebuild America’s standing in the world. I served with Joe Biden for 12 years in the U.S. Senate. I know him and trust him. No one comes close to his experience or his ability to achieve bipartisan consensus.”

Peterson served as first lady while her husband, Walter, was New Hampshire governor from 1969 to 1973.

“President Trump has created chaos, instituted a culture of corruption, debased our nation’s global standing, and frayed our moral and ethical fabric,” Peterson said. “Joe Biden is the measured voice and steady hand we need to bring stability and unity back to our country.”

As Biden continues racking up support from traditional New Hampshire Republicans, his competitors are taking a different approach. Sanders, for example, now has the endorsement of Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, who is also a 2020 Granite State gubernatorial candidate.

Volinsky tweeted: “Bernie has always fought for the underdog and we agree on many critical issues that impact Granite Staters– like access to health care and eliminating crushing student loan debt. He continues to fight to this day for those who don’t have the voice in our political process. #FITN #NotMeUs.”

Monday, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced the endorsement of former presidential candidate Julian Castro of Texas.

“Elizabeth and I share a vision of America where everyone counts. An America where people?–not the wealthy or well-connected?–are put first. I’m proud to join her in the fight for big, structural change,” Castro stated via Twitter.

“Thank you, @JulianCastro! You’ve been a powerful voice for bold, progressive change and I’m honored to have your support. Together, we’ll fight to make sure every single family in America has a path to opportunity,” Warren responded to Castro on Twitter.

Recently, Pete Buttigieg of Indiana announced endorsements from several Granite State leaders, including three from the city of Nashua: Alderman At Large Ben Clemons, state Rep. Sue Newman, D-Nashua, and state Rep. Ray Newman, D-Nashua.

“With America’s standing in the world so degraded and our alliances so frayed by the Trump administration, I’m proud to support Pete Buttigieg because he has the experience, temperament, and wisdom to restore American leadership and diplomacy abroad,” Clemons said of Buttigieg last month.

Also, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota racked up a key early endorsement from Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli of Nashua.

“She answers questions directly and honestly. She doesn’t pander and she doesn’t bash other candidates,” Pignatelli said of Klobuchar. “Her work as lead prosecutor in a very large County Attorney’s office has given her executive experience. As a U.S. senator, she has been very responsible and clear-headed.”

NEW HAMPSHIRE POLL

Listed below are Democratic presidential candidates as positioned in the two most recent CBS News/YouGov polls for New Hampshire. The first was released Nov. 17, while the second debuted on Sunday.

November January Change

• Sanders 20% 27% + 7

• Biden 22% 25% + 3

• Warren 31% 18% – 13

• Buttigieg 16% 13% – 3

• Klobuchar 3% 7% + 4

• Tom Steyer 1% 3% + 2

• Cory Booker 1% 3% + 2

• Andrew Yang 1% 2% + 1

• Tulsi Gabbard 0% 1% + 1

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *