91麻豆天美

By Jasmine Thomas

MANCHESTER, N.H. 鈥� After launching an unlikely bid to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination, Congressman Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) spent the final day before the first-in-the-nation primary rallying supporters and giving high fives.

The night before election day, Phillips supporters gathered at his campaign鈥檚 headquarters in downtown Manchester. Supporters were treated to free campaign merchandise, including Dean for President T-shirts and Missing Joe Biden posters. Former 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang introduced Phillips to a crowd of supporters and journalists.

鈥淚 personally think it鈥檚 absurd that New Hampshire Democrats are being punished for holding a primary [that] you all are required to hold by state law,鈥� Yang said, referring to Biden鈥檚 absence from both the ballot and in the state leading up to the election. 鈥淲e need a guy who is actually making the case here in New Hampshire.鈥�

Phillips talked less about policy and more about civic engagement, 鈥淭hank you for your belief in me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hank you for recognizing that if we don鈥檛 get our act together and start treating people with respect, and decency, and collegiality, we鈥檙e in big trouble.鈥�

鈥淚f you want to be the leader of the United States of America, you cannot and should not ever condemn 50% of this country,鈥� Phillips said, referring to his outreach to Trump supporters the night before. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 who I am. Are you ready for that kind of change?鈥�

On election day, Phillips spent the morning greeting voters from polling place to polling place. He made a point to shake hands with sign-holders for every candidate.

When asked how he鈥檇 unify the Democratic party, Phillips said, 鈥淚鈥檓 really excited about the opportunity to not just unify Democrats, but actually bring independents and most Republicans along and re-establish what America really is 鈥� which is working together.鈥�

Democratic primary voters had many options on their ballots, none of which were Biden. Many Democratic voters expressed displeasure at Biden鈥檚 absence from the state and the subsequent write-in campaign.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 pathetic,鈥� Donna LeRoy, 56, said. She and her husband, wearing Dean for President shirts, took photos with Phillips outside their polling place on election day.

鈥淗ow dare they say our vote doesn鈥檛 matter to them and then want us to write his name in?鈥�

Retired teacher Jill Gendron, 64, was disappointed by Biden鈥檚 absence but still voted for him. 鈥淭o tell you the truth, I鈥檓 voting for Biden just because he鈥檚 a Democrat.鈥�

Her husband, retiree Michael Gendron, 65, wasn’t convinced by Phillips鈥� campaign. 鈥淚 thought it was a very good campaign鈥� I don鈥檛 know anything about him other than that he鈥檚 been on the TV the past three weeks.鈥�

On Tuesday night, Phillips鈥� supporters gathered at the Millyard Museum in Manchester, where they were treated to food, an open bar and free campaign merchandise.

The room erupted in boos when it was announced that news organizations projected a win for Biden.

鈥淪o I鈥檓 here to say, are you ready to keep this baby going?鈥� Phillips asked. 鈥淭his is not a campaign about me, this is a campaign about all of you, and all the people around this great country who are looking for someone to get excited about.鈥�

Phillips finished second with 19.6% of the Democratic vote.