New Hampshire primary results: Bernie Sanders wins vote as Democratic field thins out

New Hampshire Rally: Elizabeth Warren battles to stay in the Democratic race

Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire Democratic presidential primaries, declaring victory in the first-in-the-nation vote and paving an even clearer potential path to securing the nomination and moving onto the general election against Donald Trump.

After essentially tying in Iowa last week, the strong showings from Pete Buttigieg, who appeared to place in second, and Mr Sanders cemented their status at the top of the 2020 Democratic field.

And an unexpectedly strong performance from Amy Klobuchar gave her a stronger path out of New Hampshire as the contest moves on to the gantlet of state-by-state primary contests that lie ahead.

The strength of Mr Sanders and Mr Buttigieg was matched in reverse by the struggle of former Vice President Joe Biden, who spent most of the last year as the Democrats’ national front-runner but fled New Hampshire hours before polls closed anticipating a bad finish.

With final returns ahead, he was competing for fourth place with Elizabeth Warren, a disappointing turn for the senator from neighbouring Massachusetts.

Neither Mr Biden nor Ms Warren were on track to receive any delegates.

“So many of you chose to meet a new era of challenge with a new generation of leadership,” Mr Buttigieg said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sanders boasted of “a movement from coast to coast ... to defeat the most dangerous president."

Meanwhile, two candidates dropped out amid the crucial New Hampshire vote.

Michael Bennet, a Colorado Senator and former 2020 hopeful, told supporters on Tuesday: “I love you, New Hampshire. Whether you knew it or not, we were having a great time together.”

He added: “I think it’s fitting for us to end the campaign tonight.”

The announcement came just after Andrew Yang, another low-polling Democratic presidential candidate, announced he was suspending his campaign amid the first-in-the-nation primary.

“They’ve decided tonight, and tonight is not going to be our night, but let me say this to New Hampshire: You may see me once again, so thank you”, Mr Bennet said.

Mr Yang, who announced the suspension of his candidacy just moments before Mr Bennet, was the last candidate of colour to qualify for the debate stages, effectively leaving a still-crowded field of all-white candidates vying for the Democratic nomination.

Additional reporting by Associated Press. See live updates from the New Hampshire primaries as they came in below.

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Key Points

• Bernie Sanders holds lead during first-in-the-nation primary
• Amy Klobuchar sees polling surge into third place
• Joe Biden slips in the polls to fifth place
• Elizabeth Warren campaign releases attack memo claiming underdog status in crowded race

[12 February 2020 02:35 · Chris Riotta]

Here's some analysis from The Independent's Clark Mindock as he watches the primaries unfold in New Hampshire:

The results coming in from Amy Klobuchar amount to a pretty big payoff for the Minnesota senator, after she banked on a collapse or Joe Biden’s candidacy in early states and a yearning among moderates for a centrist with a bit more experience than Buttigieg had to offer.

Here in New Hampshire, plenty of voters have expressed an interest in her in recent days, describing the choice as a grave one considering the consequences they see in losing to Donald Trump in November. She’s the practical choice for a lot of voters, and one they see as a caring new face who can bring a diverse coalition together.

Here’s our earlier report from an event of her’s in Nashua:

[12 February 2020 02:45 · Chris Riotta]

With 45 percent of precincts reporting, Bernie Sanders continues to hold a clear lead with 26.7 percent support, followed by Pete Buttigieg with 23.6 percent. 

Amy Klobuchar appears to have placed in third, with Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden both showing weaker performances despite being considered being leading candidates just months ago. 

[12 February 2020 02:55 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump has mocked Elizabeth Warren in a scathing tweet about the New Hampshire primaries: 

[12 February 2020 03:01 · Chris Riotta]

Breaking news: With 63 percent of precincts reporting, CNN has placed the top candidates as follows:

Bernie Sanders: 26.5

Pete Buttigieg: 23.8

Amy Klobuchar: 20

Elizabeth Warren: 9.3

Joe Biden: 8.5

[12 February 2020 03:15 · Chris Riotta]

Here's The Independent's Andrew Buncombe with more on Elizabeth Warren's message to supporters in the wake of her weak performance during the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primaries:

[12 February 2020 03:35 · Chris Riotta]

Joe Biden mistakenly referred to New Hampshire as Nevada during a speech on the night of the state’s first-in-the-nation primary, saying at a campaign stop on Tuesday: “It’s important that Iowa and Nevada have spoken.”

[12 February 2020 03:48 · Chris Riotta]

Here's my latest on Joe Biden's gaffe during a campaign stop in South Carolina tonight:

[12 February 2020 03:55 · Chris Riotta]

Pete Buttigieg is delivering a speech as the results show him in second place behind Bernie Sanders.

Meanwhile, a source tells CNN the campaign is “feeling generally good” about the former South Bend, Indiana mayor’s showing on Tuesday night, adding: “This was Bernie’s backyard.”

[12 February 2020 04:05 · Chris Riotta]

From The Independent's Clark Mindock as he watches the race unfold in New Hampshire:

A once ecstatic atmosphere has dimmed a bit here at the Sanders election night party in Manchester, as Buttigieg has crept closer to Sanders with nearly 80 per cent of the vote reported.

Just a moment ago the crowd erupted in chants of “popular vote” after the CNN feed that is being broadcast above the stadium showed Sanders with just a one delegate lead over Buttigieg.

People still seem quite hopeful, but it seems clear that supporters were hoping for more of a blowout after Sanders trounced Hillary Clinton here four years ago.

[12 February 2020 04:17 · Chris Riotta]

Breaking news: Bernie Sanders has won New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary, according to numerous projections, further carving a potential path to victory for the Vermont senator in a crowded field of presidential hopefuls, with strong showings for Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar.

Mr Sanders was long expected to win the state, in which he defeated former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 primaries. 

However, as is typical with New Hampshire politics, the night came with several significant surprises, including a surge of support for Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who placed in third.

Elizabeth Warren also suffered a surprisingly weak showing in the primary, placing in fourth behind Ms Klobuchar. The progressive Massachusetts senator shares a border with the state, like Mr Sanders, and was seen as a potential frontrunner in New Hampshire just months ago.