New Hampshire primary: Biden scrambles to keep presidential hopes alive as Sanders soars

The field is now narrower and even more white, writes Andrew Buncombe

Former frontrunner may soon be heading for exit (Getty)

Perhaps the most telling thing about the most noticeable New Hampshire speech was not what was said but where it was delivered.

Joe Biden was already campaigning in the city of Columbia when the numbers came in, having flown out of town before it was official.

No matter. Having come in a dismal fifth behind Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobachar and Elizabeth Warren, and struggling to scrape together 10 per cent of the vote, the former vice president could have gone to the South Pole, never mind South Carolina, and still been unable to hide from the truth.