The 2020 presidential election has been full of surprises, not least of which has been former Vice President Joe Biden’s decision to not put his name on the ballot in the state of New Hampshire. While the Biden campaign has downplayed the move, citing a crowded field and believing he had sufficient support among the electorate, a group of Biden supporters have taken it upon themselves to launch a write-in campaign in the Granite State.
The organizers of the “Write in Biden NH” movement, led by former state senator Amanda Merrill, sought to encourage voters to cast their ballot for Biden in the upcoming election, even though his name will not be on the ballot. The campaign argued that voting for Biden was not only a “safe harbor” but a statement of support for the former vice president.
The campaign quickly gained momentum, with Merrill relying on social media and door-to-door canvassing to spread the word. Volunteers encouraged voters to check the box for “ANY OTHER” candidate and then write in Joe Biden, complete with an asterisk or addendum to indicate that the write-in candidate was Biden.
When asked why she thought Biden had chosen not to appear on the ballot in the state, Merrill noted that he had probably thought he had sufficient support in the state and its densely populated areas like Manchester and Nashua, where he had proven popular in past elections. She added that the write-in campaign was a chance for those citizens to have their voice heard and for New Hampshire to demonstrate its electoral might this November.
The write-in campaign may be a long shot but it’s certainly an interesting twist in this already wild election. The Biden campaign has not given its official blessing to the write-in effort nor have they actively discouraged it. But with news outlets reporting that the Biden name is being seen on ballots and ballot box labels across the state, the campaign may have some legs.
At a time when so much seems uncertain, “Write in Biden NH” is providing a glimmer of hope to the Biden supporters in New Hampshire, and may prove to be a rallying cry for Joe Biden going forward.