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After Sanders Victory, Voices From New Hampshire On Left, Right And Center

A triptic of Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Robert F. Bukaty / Mary Altaffer
/
Associated Press
Scenes from New Hampshire: Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, had a narrow victory over former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (right). Sen. Amy Klobuchar (center) also had a strong showing within 5% of the two frontrunners.

Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed victory in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, but only just: he and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg will each get nine pledged delegates, while Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar was within 5% of the front runners, claiming six delegates. But New Hampshire voters were open about their concern as to whether the party would unite behind a centrist candidate or, as one voter phrased it, if they're starting to "spoil for is a real left versus right fight."
VPR political reporter Peter Hirschfeld talked to New Hampshire voters about what the narrow Sanders victory reveals about how Democrats are weighing their choices in 2020.

Early results suggested a bigger margin of victory for Sanders than what he is ending up with, and a much smaller victory than his 2016 win over Hillary Clinton. One Sanders supporter at the candidate's Manchester event Tuesday night saw it was a win for progressive ideas.

"I think what people are kind of starting to spoil for is a real left versus right fight. To really have it out for the first time in a half century."

"I think what people are kind of starting to spoil for is a real left versus right fight. To really have it out for the first time in a half century. A lot of the polling indicates that a majority of Americans are very much in favor of the Sanders agenda, broadly speaking. I think people would like to see us have that fight. And let the chips fall where they may." 

But Buttigieg and his supporters said the 2020 election couldn't be a referendum on Democratic Socialism.

Meanwhile, support of Sen. Klobuchar was visible at the Ward 10 polling station in Concord.

“I really wanted somebody with political experience that has moved legislation, and I know how hard it is to get both sides to move legislation. And I think that her record is really important for all of us, that we can’t keep demonizing the other side” said New Hampshire State House Rep. Christy Bartlett.

And while many Sanders supporters in 2016 expressed a "Bernie or bust" mentality, making it clear they wouldn't support Hillary Clinton in the general election under any circumstances, many Sanders supporters in 2020 voiced they were moving away from that mentality.

"It's the soul of the nation," the supporter said. "Who are we as a people? Who are we as a country? I hope and pray we’re going to find an answer to that. That we are better than we look right now."

Listen to the full interview above to hear voices from New Hampshire on the night of the first-in-the-nation primary.

Broadcast live on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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