Antonia Moffa / The Hofstra Chronicle
As a political science major and committed Democrat, I have been closely following the race between the wide range of Democratic presidential candidates attempting to clinch the party’s nomination for the general election. While taking an introductory political science course in the fall semester, I was introduced to the Hofstra Goes to New Hampshire trip, an opportunity to observe one of the most consequential moments in American politics up close. I immediately jumped at the opportunity to attend the sixth iteration of the trip.
Our first stop was Keene, New Hampshire, where we attended a town hall event held by William Weld, a former governor of Massachusetts and the only Republican candidate challenging President Donald Trump for the party’s nomination. In a fairly intimate setting, Weld discussed his legislative and business accomplishments and answered questions from members of the audience. His platform encompasses centrist outrage at the current administration, offering an alternative, moderate perspective. Though I did not agree with Weld on many of his policy proposals, it was admirable to see a qualified, informed Republican candidate challenging the death grip that Trump seems to have on the party.
With little time to spare, we hopped back on the buses and set off for Manchester, New Hampshire, for the 61st annual McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Event, where we got a taste of the political circus that descends upon the state every four years. Outside of the Southern New Hampshire University Arena, throngs of people gathered in sub-zero temperatures to show support for their favorite candidates. Once inside, we walked past dozens of booths set up for each Democratic candidate, offering pins, stickers and T-shirts to potential voters.
This event gives Democratic candidates one final opportunity to address the people of New Hampshire en masse before the primary elections. Each candidate paraded onto the stage to pre-selected, energetic music, cheered on by their supporters in the crowd. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, among others, emphasized the desperate need for the Democratic party to unite in the general election against Trump in order to ensure that his presidency does not continue. Each displayed intense fervor and enthusiasm in anticipation for the first primary election in the nation, reflective of the general feeling within the Democratic party.
Our second day in the Granite State began with a flurry of hotel breakfast and rushing to the buses in the early morning in order to begin our trek north to see Andrew Yang in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. When we arrived at the Hopkinton Town Hall, we were greeted by a meeting room packed with people wearing T-shirts and hats with Yang’s slogan, Make America Think Harder (MATH). Yang discussed his signature promises, including the provision of $1,000 a month for all adults in the country, and his promotion of human-centered capitalism. He offered a hopeful future in which Americans are recognized for their intrinsic value, and not for what they can contribute to the economy.
After a quick stop for lunch, we were welcomed to the University of New Hampshire by Andrew Smith, a political science professor. Smith provided us with a presentation explaining the historic and modern-day significance of the New Hampshire primary and discussed his research regarding political engagement in the state. We got back on the road and attended a rally for Pete Buttigieg held in a local high school. Buttigieg reiterated many of his popular policy talking points, including his criticism of the radicalism of other candidates, and offered a hopeful, inclusive vision for the future.
After listening to Buttigieg, we drove down the road to listen to Amy Klobuchar speak. Klobuchar, a candidate running on a platform of realistic promises and extensive government experience, discussed her outrage at the current state of the nation with sincerity. Afterward, she generously offered to speak to and take pictures with a large group of individual constituents. After Klobuchar’s event, we finished our long day of gallivanting around New Hampshire, and retired to our hotel.
Embarking on this political pilgrimage allowed me to experience one of the most important primary elections in the nation up close. While I am still unsure of who will win the New Hampshire primary, I am thankful that I was able to experience the message of every Democratic candidate in the 2020 race.
