New Hampshire Also Shows Strong Support for Buttigieg and Sanders... Intensified Mutual Criticism Battle

Iowa Followed by Another Two-Front Race... Biden Expected to Place 4th Again
Candidates Focus on Offense and Defense in Broadcast Appearances

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Ahead of the New Hampshire primary scheduled for the 11th, U.S. Democratic presidential primary candidates engaged in fierce battles not on the campaign trail but through broadcast appearances. Intense exchanges took place between former South Bend Mayor Peter Buttigieg and Senator Bernie Sanders, who are expected to compete closely for the lead once again.

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor and U.S. Democratic presidential primary candidate Pete Buttigieg is giving a speech at a campaign rally in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on the 8th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to U.S. media on the 9th (local time), a joint poll conducted by WBZ-TV, The Boston Globe, and Suffolk University released the previous evening showed Senator Sanders leading with 24% support. Former Mayor Buttigieg trailed with 22%, within the margin of error. Senator Elizabeth Warren ranked third with 13% support, former Vice President Joe Biden was fourth with 10%, and Senator Amy Klobuchar came in fifth with 9% support.

With former Mayor Buttigieg and Senator Sanders forming the leading group following Iowa, former Vice President Biden is once again trailing in fourth place, intensifying concerns about his campaign.

In response, each candidate's camp engaged in mutual criticism and rebuttals not only on the campaign trail but also through broadcast appearances on the same day. Former South Bend Mayor Buttigieg, who caused a stir by winning first place in the Iowa caucus, appeared on as many as five broadcasts on the 9th (local time).

As a centrist, Buttigieg strongly rejected Senator Sanders' attempt to frame him as part of the establishment. Senator Sanders appeared on CBS's 'Face the Nation' that day and strongly criticized the fact that many billionaires recently donated to Buttigieg's campaign. In response, Buttigieg said, "Bernie is quite wealthy," and added, "I would gladly accept donations from him," firing back.

On CNN's 'State of the Union,' Buttigieg confronted former Vice President Biden. Regarding Biden's comment at a rally the previous day that "Buttigieg is not Barack Obama," Buttigieg responded, "That's right. I am not (Obama)," but also added, "Neither is he."

Having served as vice president for eight years during the Obama administration, former Vice President Biden is intensifying his focus on Buttigieg, who shares a centrist stance, after suffering a blow to his momentum in Iowa.

Buttigieg instead remarked, "This is not 2008, but 2020," portraying Biden as a politician of an older generation.

Senator Sanders addressed the communist controversy surrounding him. In an interview with 'Fox News Sunday,' he denied President Donald Trump's accusation of him being a "communist," calling Trump a "pathological liar." He emphasized, "My socialism is about policies for working families, not billionaires." He also expressed his willingness to support whoever becomes the Democratic presidential nominee, saying, "I will support whoever the Democratic presidential candidate is."

Former Vice President Biden, facing the risk of falling behind in the first two early primaries that will determine the direction of the race, appeared on ABC's 'This Week' and sought to check Buttigieg, a former small-town mayor, by highlighting his own long legislative career and vice-presidential experience, asking, "So what has he done?"

When the host asked, "Has there ever been a case where a candidate was nominated without finishing in the top two in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries?" Biden responded, "No one has been nominated without overwhelming support from African Americans," expressing confidence in the black vote.

However, Bloomberg News reported that even in South Carolina, a southern state Biden considered his "firewall," young black voters' support is shifting toward Senator Sanders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.