Fake robocalls, push for Biden write-in: What’s happening with Dems in NH

[DEAN PHILLIPS]

“I’m something of an expert on illusive creatures. So, I challenged myself to find President Biden in New Hampshire during this primary season. I thought I was good at hiding. So, I asked around ‘have you seen Joe?’”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IT’S AN AD BY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND MINNESOTA CONGRESSMAN DEAN PHILLIPS – MOCKING PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO HASN’T BEEN SEEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SINCE HIS LAST OFFICIAL VISIT IN APRIL OF 2022.

ALL EYES WILL BE ON NEW HAMPSHIRE TUESDAY – AS VOTERS WILL CAST THE FIRST BALLOTS IN THE NATION’S FIRST PRIMARY – OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THERE’S BEEN HEAVY FOCUS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE – AS FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR NIKKI HALEY – WILL DUKE IT OUT FOR THE GRANITE STATE’S DELEGATES.

HOWEVER, ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE – THE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT – PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT.

21 OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WILL BE, BUT THERE ARE ZERO DELEGATES AT STAKE.

THIS ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE’S NEW RULES FOR 2024. THE DNC, UNDER PRESSURE FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN, DECLARED SOUTH CAROLINA WOULD BE THE FIRST OFFICIAL PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS.

HOWEVER – NEW HAMPSHIRE REFUSED TO BUDGE, CITING A STATE LAW THAT ITS CONTEST MUST BE HELD SEVEN DAYS BEFORE ANY OTHER PRIMARY.

SO BIDEN ELECTED TO SKIP THE PRIMARY — CHOOSING TO NOT EVEN CAMPAIGN THERE — AND DID NOT HAVE HIS NAME PLACED ON THE BALLOT.

THE DNC EVEN DEEMED THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CONTEST “MEANINGLESS” AND DECLARED NO DELEGATES WOULD BE UP FOR GRABS THIS TIME AROUND. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE’S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR FIGHTING BACK AGAINST THOSE DECISIONS SAYING IN A STATEMENT…

“AFTER JOE BIDEN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TRIED AND FAILED TO STRIP NEW HAMPSHIRE OF ITS FIRST IN THE NATION PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY, THEY ARE NOW SO WORRIED THAT JOE BIDEN WILL SUFFER FURTHER EMBARRASSMENT THAT THEY HAVE CALLED OUR PRIMARY ‘MEANINGLESS.’ NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS HAVE ALWAYS TURNED NATIONAL EXPECTATIONS ON THEIR HEAD. THIS YEAR WILL BE NO DIFFERENT, WHETHER JOE BIDEN AND THE DNC LIKE IT OR NOT.”

OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES – WHO WILL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT TUESDAY – SUCH AS DEAN PHILLIPS AND MARIANNE WILLLIAMSON CALLING THE DNC’S DECISION “VOTER SUPPRESSION.”

[DEAN PHILLIPS / CONGRESSMAN AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE]

“DEMOCRATIC PARTY SHOULD BE INVESTING IN DEMOCRACY, PROMOTING DEBATE PROMOTING CANDIDATES AND PROMOTING VOTERS.”

[MARIANNE WILLIAMSON / DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE]

“IT SHOULD BE YOU, THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE PEOPLE OF EVERY OTHER STATE SHOULD DECIDE WHO IS THE BEST DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS – THERE’S BEEN A SIZABLE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS BY DEMOCRATIC VOLUNTEERS TO GET INDEPENDENTS AND DEMOCRATS TO WRITE-IN BIDENS NAME ON THE BALLOT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

AND NOW – VOTERS ARE RECEIVING ROBOCALLS – WITH A FAKE PRESIDENT BIDEN VOICE – ENCOURAGING VOTERS *NOT* TO VOTE AT ALL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S PRIMARY ON TUESDAY.

NBC NEWS OBTAINED A COPY OF THE FAKE ROBOCALL.

[FAKE ROBOCALL]

“YOU KNOW THE VALUE OF VOTING DEMOCRATIC WHEN OUR VOTES COUNT. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SAVE YOUR VOTE FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AT THIS TIME, IT’S UNCLEAR WHO IS BEHIND THE ROBOCALLS

PHILLIPS AND WILLIAMSON ARE HOPING THE WRITE-IN EFFORT WILL FAIL… AS THEY’RE SEEKING TO GAIN SOME NOTORIETY HEADING INTO SOUTH CAROLINA’S PRIMARY.