All at stake as New Hampshire votes in consequential Democratic primary

US DEMOCRATS braced for a volatile, consequential primary on Tuesday in New Hampshire as leftist Bernie Sanders and youthful challenger Pete Buttigieg fight for pole position in the race for who faces President Donald Trump in November’s presidential election.

Tensions have risen steadily as Granite Staters, notoriously independent-minded and astute voters, headed to polls across the northeastern battleground with just 1.3 million people – but plays a hugely influential role in the US political landscape.

New Hampshire hosts the nation’s first primary, eight days after Iowa kicked off the nomination process, and it could narrow the Democratic field of 11 current candidates.

White House hopefuls have been courting voters in the state’s small cities, rolling farm country, lake-side towns and snow-covered mountain hamlets, seeking a spark that could ignite a presidential run that carries them to the Democratic nomination.

Tiny Dixville Notch – population five – traditionally votes first at one minute after midnight.

“There’s a certain amount of pride to being here,” said Tom Tillotson, managing the midnight vote.

“We take this seriously. We were humbled and honoured to be … basically the starting gun for the primary election process,” he said.

In a surprise, billionaire Michael Bloomberg won in Dixvi l l e Notch with one

Republican and two Democratic votes.

Buttigieg and Sanders each earned one vote.

As New Hampshire endures its quadrennial close-up with candidates making last-gasp campaign swings, an anxious Democratic Party is struggling to find the right path to defeating Trump.

Will it be the “political revolution” espoused by Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist? Or the more moderate tacks from either Buttigieg, a 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, or former vice-president Joe Biden?

Complicating Tuesday’s vote, independents – who outnumber both Democrats and Republicans in the state – are can vote in either primary, potentially tipping the scales in a tight race.

Looming over the primary, Trump jetted to New Hampshire on Monday night aiming to steal the limelight with a large Manchester rally.

“Remember this – Washington Democrats have never been more extreme,” Trump told cheering supporters.

“We are saving your healthcare while the socialist Democrats are trying to take away your healthcare.”

The remark appeared aimed at Sanders, buoyed by a strong showing in Iowa last week and a poll that claimed he was the national frontrunner for the first time.

The survey also showed Bloomberg – who is skipping Tuesday’s contest – vaulting into third place behind a struggling Biden.