Warren supporters await results as polls begin to report

By Katharine Swindells
BU News Service

MANCHESTER, N.H. — As polling stations across New Hampshire begin to count votes, Elizabeth Warren took to the stage in a large venue on the outskirts of Manchester to speak to her campaign volunteers and supporters.

Warren pledged unity as the key message of her speech, saying that factional fighting has turned nasty, and could “burn down the rest of the party.”

“We cannot afford to fall into factions, we can’t afford to squander our collective power,” she said. “We win when we come together.”

She congratulated Sanders and Buttigieg on their leads in the results.

“They are both great people and either one of them would be a far better president than Donald Trump,” Warren said. “I respect them.”

She also highlighted Klobuchar, who has had a recent surge and is currently third in the New Hampshire results, ahead of Warren by a significant margin.

“And I also want to congratulate my friend and colleague, Amy Klobuchar for showing just how wrong the pundits can be when they count a woman out,” she said.

Warren has been losing momentum in recent weeks, with the most recent polls showing her third nationally, but she was quick to reassure supporters of her electability, saying her campaign is “built for the long haul.”

She pointedly distinguished herself from other candidates by emphasizing her work ethic, dedication, and record.

“Our best chance of beating Donald Trump is with a candidate who can do the work, and I mean the hard, disciplined work,” she said.

At the open-to-the-public event, many families and groups of women gathered eagerly to see the Massachusetts senator speak. When asked why they support Warren, all quickly cited her policies and their impression that she “gets stuff done.” 

Warren recounted her stances on corruption, climate justice, financial regulation and a wealth tax to the crowd. This was met with loud cheers and chants of “Two cents, two cents.”

Aurora Reisman from Merrimack, New Hampshire, attended the event with her husband, Robbie, and 9-year-old daughter, Jacinda.

Reisman supports Warren because of her progressive policies, particularly on healthcare, women’s rights and student debt. She brought her daughter in the hopes that she will be inspired by Warren.

“She went with me four years ago to vote for Hillary Clinton; we were at Hillary Clinton’s rally four years ago,” Reisman said. “I think it’s just important for her to see amazing women role models. To see women run for president and someday become president.”

Michelle Ryder, a college professor from Nashua, New Hampshire, is attracted to Warren’s higher education policies.

“My daughter is going to be in college soon, so we’re going to be paying her college tuition,” Ryder said. “And I’m still going to be paying off my student loans, maybe until I retire.”

But despite her clear message of unity, it seems that Warren’s campaign is changing tactics going into the next stage of the campaign, the Nevada caucuses on February 22.

Throughout the campaign, Warren has made a point of not attacking her opponents, but in a memo released to supporters Tuesday morning, Warren’s campaign directly addressed the flaws in the other candidates.

The memo targeted Sanders’ numbers, which she said are “significantly lower” than in 2016, Biden’s falling poll numbers and the criticism Buttigieg has been facing on race.

“Former Mayor Buttigieg’s most significant challenge is yet to come, as the contest moves into states with more diverse electorates,” the memo said. 

The memo argued that Klobuchar is “playing catch up” after her recent rise in the polls and lashed out at Michael Bloomberg’s high spending.

“Keep in mind that Bloomberg will soon be forced to actually debate his record, rather than hiding behind millions in TV ads,” the memo said.

It’s not the first time she has made such claims. At an event in Boston in December she called out Buttigieg and Bloomberg for their funding methods.

“Michael Bloomberg just did a $37 million ad buy in one week while he skips the usual part of democracy, like shaking hands with people and hearing directly about their concerns,” Warren told a group of reporters after the gala.

This is a developing story. Check here for updates.