The New Hampshire primary is still pretty unique. It’s full of hope (not too many candidates have been eliminated yet) and chaos (multiple events happening concurrently all around the state). Some are small, town-hall style events, where you can really get up close to the candidate. Others are large gatherings in auditoriums or arenas. And candidates are still known to occasionally appear at small diners in quaint New England villages.
Our first stop was at a VFW hall in Sommersworth, NH, where Tulsi Gabbard was scheduled to hold a town-hall style event. The candidate arrived at the hall, and immediately began chatting with volunteers who were setting-up for the meeting. Among the audience was a small group of tourists from Denmark, who schedule a trip every four years to get a personal glimpse of American democracy in action. This informal event really allowed you to feel like you came away with a better sense of the person-behind-the-candidate.
Tulsi Gabbard takes a question from the audience at a rally in Sommersworth, NH
Our second day focused on a large event (Our Rights, Our Courts Presidential Forum), hosted by MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle. This two-hour event included appearances by most of the candidates actively campaigning in New Hampshire, with the notable exceptions of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Three candidates arrived at the event as crowd favorites; Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and former-mayor Pete Buttigieg.
Other candidates found their campaigns running out of steam (and funding) shortly after the New Hampshire primaries. Just a few weeks after the New Hampshire primary, the Democratic Party race narrowed to just two candidates.
