After NH primary, political analyst weighs-in on what voters can expect

With the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination well underway, as New Hampshire voters hit the polls Tuesday for the state’s primary, one political analyst believes the large field of Democrats will begin to narrow.

Associate Professor of Political science at Providence College Joe Cammarano said historically, New Hampshire has marked a thinning of the herd while also having the potential to set up a surprise candidate to make a charge going forward.

Cammarano said New Hampshire may be the most important primary in the country.

“I think there might be a few withdrawals. I think Elizabeth Warren is probably going to have to make a very tough decision after today if she doesn’t do well in New Hampshire,” Cammarano said.

He believes the same decision will also need to be made for candidates who are struggling in the polls, such as Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer.

With a historically strong voter turnout, it paves the way for a candidate down the road, giving them a chance to do better than the polls predicted.

In the end, it could save a campaign and give lots of momentum going forward.

“New Hampshire almost always boosts the candidate who does better than expected,” Cammarano said. “You don’t have to win in New Hampshire, you have to do better than you’re projected.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders is currently leading the pack heading into Tuesday, and Cammarano believes Sanders holds a geographic advantage, being the Senator from neighboring Vermont.

“A New Hampshire resident and a Vermont resident aren’t as different as they used to be and that’s why he has support because the same type of person lives in New Hampshire as in Vermont,” Cammarano said.

After New Hampshire, the campaign moves down south.

“South Carolina is an important firewall for a traditional Democrat because the voters in the Democratic primary in South Carolina are actually much more like the traditional Clinton-style Democrat,” Cammarano said.

South Carolina’s primary is Feb. 29, with Super Tuesday landing on Mar. 3, the day when voters in Massachusetts will hit the polls.

Rhode Island’s primary is April 28.