Trump tells Democrats to vote for Dean Phillips over Biden

This is a joint project between Nexstar Media Group and Syracuse University.

NASHUA, N.H. (NEXSTAR) — Former President Donald Trump was in Manchester on Saturday taking credit for New Hampshire’s status as the starting point for the presidential campaign.

“I kept you first in the nation, and some other people didn’t,” Trump said, “and they didn’t even show up for the election, you know who I’m talking about.”

Trump is talking about incumbent President Joe Biden who worked with the Democratic National Committee to skip over New Hampshire in favor of South Carolina’s more diverse electorate. The move upset some Democratic voters here.

“He’s not the Democrat here on the ballot, I hope he doesn’t win,” said Donna Leroy

She and her husband, Paul Leroy, say they’ll be voting for Dean Phillips, a third-term congressman from Minnesota who’s challenging Biden. But they might be surprised to hear who’s also backing Phillips.

“Let’s see how an unknown congressman— nobody ever heard of this guy,” Trump joked to the crowd on Saturday. “Let’s see how he does. He might beat Biden; wouldn’t that be nice? I think that the Democrats should vote for the congressman just to send a signal: you don’t abandon us like that. Nobody’s going to abandon New Hampshire!”

We asked Phillips supporters what they’d be concerned about in a second Trump term.

“Kind of everything,” said Molly Campbell. “There’s not really a position that he takes that I think is rational.”

“I want it to be Dean but if its Joe Biden or Trump, I’m voting for Biden,” Donna Leroy said.

“It’s why we’re out and engaged,” added Paul Leroy, “because we’re very concerned about this next cycle.”

Dean Phillips says that he will beat Donald Trump or whoever the Republican nominee is in November.

Luke Radel is a sophomore at Syracuse University studying broadcast and digital journalism and political science.

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