President Biden Opts Out of New Hampshire Primary Ballot Amid Calendar Dispute

Biden's decision stems from ongoing dispute over primary calendar; a write-in campaign emerges as New Hampshire vows to maintain first-in-the-nation status.

• President Biden has chosen not to appear on the New Hampshire primary ballot due to a dispute over the primary calendar within the Democratic Party. This comes after his advocacy for a reshuffling of the primary calendar where South Carolina would lead off, a proposal that was adopted by the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
• Despite the DNC's scheduling of the South Carolina primary on Feb. 3, New Hampshire intends to maintain its 'first-in-the-nation' primary status which directly violates party rules. As a result, Biden decided to withdraw from the New Hampshire ballot instead of disregarding the rules that he advocated for.
• Although Biden's name will not be on the New Hampshire primary ballot, state Democratic leaders have initiated a write-in campaign on his behalf. This has historical precedence, with former President Lyndon Johnson having won the New Hampshire primary as a write-in candidate in 1968.
• The punishment for New Hampshire Democrats holding their primary earlier than allowed by the national party remains uncertain. The DNC could strip the state of all its delegate votes at the next year's national convention, or reduce their voting power, or opt to take no action.
• Despite Biden's absence, the New Hampshire primary ballot may be crowded due to the state's relaxed filing requirements. The filing period, as of the time the articles were written, ends on Friday and already had 13 Democratic and 21 Republican candidates who've submitted the necessary paperwork.

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