Joe Biden received endorsements from high-profile New Hampshire Democratic political operatives, including the husband of a New Hampshire senator and former operatives for rival campaigns.
Bill Shaheen, the husband of Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, leads the group of operatives in endorsing the former vice president.
“We need a president and a Senate who can bring dignity back to our country and immediately command respect on the world stage. Joe Biden can do both,” Shaheen said.
Shaheen has a colorful past in New Hampshire politics, having stepped down as an adviser of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign in 2007 after he suggested Barack Obama’s past drug use could pose a problem for him in a general election.
“It’ll be, ‘When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?’ There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It’s hard to overcome,” Shaheen said at the time.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is up for reelection in 2020 and has said she will not endorse a candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, instead focusing on keeping her seat as Republicans aim to flip it and increase their majority in the Senate.
Jim Demers, a longtime New Hampshire campaign operative who was a co-chairman of Barack Obama’s campaigns in 2008 and 2012, also endorsed Biden. Demers was a senior adviser for New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s 2020 presidential bid until he dropped out earlier this month.
“One of the major motivating reasons I went with Cory Booker so early was I always felt his message and career were built on unity and bringing people together,” Demers told WMUR. “That became a central question I looked at after he dropped out, and I believe Joe Biden checks that box as well. He’s demonstrated he can work with a lot of different factions and different people. Unifying the country is a goal of his as well.”
Former U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes was the state campaign director for spiritual author Marianne Williamson’s campaign until she also exited the race this month. Hodes, a Democratic House member from 2007-11, joined in endorsing the former vice president.
The new Biden endorsements include two Manchester elected officials who previously backed Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan for president, who has since dropped out of the race and also endorsed Biden: Alderman-at-Large Dan O’Neil and Ward 10 Alderman Bill Barry.
Former state Senate President Sylvia Larsen, former state Democratic Party Chairman Joe Keefe, former state Sen. Peggy Gilmour, former Carroll County Democratic Chairman Chris Meier, and Manchester attorney and former New Hampshire Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Maureen Manning also endorsed Biden on Thursday.
