Five Candidates Could Win Delegates in New Hampshire for First Time

Five Democratic candidates will likely earn delegates in Tuesday’s primary in New Hampshire for the first time, Karl Rove noted on Fox News Sunday.

That reflects a close race among several frontrunners, each of whom will win something in the proportional vote — and each of whom hopes the Granite State will fuel their campaign for the weeks ahead.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is the favorite to win, as he did in 2016. He has the advantage of being a familiar face from next-door Vermont. He also has devoted followers, who have been packing town hall meetings in the state for months. . .

Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has not been a factor until the last few months, but he surged in November and briefly held a lead in New Hampshire in December, according to the RealClearPolitics poll averages. He has a large campaign war chest and an army of volunteers. A second-place finish would help him stay among the leaders; a win could transform the race.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is struggling, and telegraphed in Friday’s debate that he does not expect to win in the state, even though he was the early frontrunner. If he finishes in the top three, he will still be competitive in the crucial Nevada caucuses (Feb. 22) and the South Carolina primary (Feb. 29), where he has a “firewall” of African-American support. But if Biden finishes fourth or worse in New Hampshire, that firewall might not last. (Read more from “Five Candidates Could Win Delegates in New Hampshire for First Time” HERE)

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