A frosty chasm between Democratic voters

MANCHESTER, N.H. — About 100 feet of sawhorse barrier lined the entrance to Hillside Middle School in Manchester, unintentionally evincing the divide in the New Hampshire Democratic primary.

At one end, closest to the parking lot, stood Representative Dean Phillips of Minnesota, a Democratic candidate challenging President Biden. He was surrounded by about a half-dozen staff members and volunteers energetically waving signs.

At the other end were two members of the local Manchester Democrats, proudly holding signs encouraging voters to write in Joe Biden, who is not on the ballot after a clash over his effort to strip New Hampshire of its first-in-the-nation primary status.

Julie Swant, 84, who was balancing a “Write-In Biden” sign on the back of the sawhorse fence, shifted her sunny disposition while greeting voters to glare at the mere mention of Phillips’s name.

“We love Joe Biden. We were just chatting about how much he’s done, and it’s so much,” she said. Her fellow “Write-In

Biden” sign holder and neighbor, Jim Webber, 68, nodded in agreement.

Back on the other end of the fence, Phillips continued to greet voters for about an hour, having arrived right as polls opened at 7 a.m., taking only a brief break for a radio interview from the quiet (and warmth) of his SUV.

“Good morning!” Phillips shouted to voters as they strode into the polls around 7:30 a.m., his hand outstretched for a handshake. “Do you know who I am?”

Poll workers briefly came outside, eager to take a picture with a candidate.

In an interview, Phillips called the day “the most joyful, wonderful day I think in my life, to be part of this.”