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

[11 February 2020 18:30 · Alex Woodward]

The billionaire former New York mayor issued a statement after the president's tweet, reiterating his past apology for his support for stop and frisk measures.

But Donald Trump has also expressed support for the policy, despite constitutional challenges and racial disparities in policing.

[11 February 2020 18:45 · Alex Woodward]

Andrew Feinberg quotes Democratic operatives that believe Bernie Sanders' supporters do have some reason to be concerned as the campaign heads into the Nevada caucus: "To the extent they have concerns that there will be shenanigans at play in Nevada, they are valid."

[11 February 2020 19:00 · Alex Woodward]

Joe Biden, on his way to South Carolina, says he's anxious to face Mike Bloomberg in the debate:

[11 February 2020 19:15 · Alex Woodward]

A voter in New Hampshire tells an MSNBC correspondent on air that she voted for Bernie Sanders in part because of the network's "stop Bernie cynicism".

[11 February 2020 19:30 · Alex Woodward]

Tulsi Gabbard has spent more time in New Hampshire than other Democratic candidates, and her moment in the state could prove to be a defining point for her campaign.

She's trailing Bernie Sanders, but recent polls have shown her hovering around 4 or 5 per cent of the vote. And, in a state where some 40 per cent of voters are registered independents who are able to choose which primary to vote in, appealing to Republican-leaning individuals who watch Fox News could tilt things a little bit in her favour.

The Independent's Clark Mindock reports.

[11 February 2020 19:45 · Alex Woodward]

The original "Bernie bro": Larry Sanders, brother of Bernie. He lives in the UK.

"I think the Democrats have good luck not to have this whole crazy Brexit thing. The Americans have bypassed that. ... The election will be fought on those great issues: the issues of who gets what, of whether your wealth and income is geared towards billionaires, or whether everybody gets the chance of a decent life."

[11 February 2020 20:00 · Alex Woodward]

Joe Biden: 'Mildly hopeful'

The former vice president is rallying in South Carolina tonight, missing the end of the New Hampshire primary election, where he's expected to take another blow.

[11 February 2020 20:15 · Alex Woodward]

Clark Mindock reports from New Hampshire:

Outside of Manchester’s 1st ward, Elizabeth Warren just stopped by as voting is in progress. She was met by a crush of supporters, who eagerly leaned over their large “NH for Warren signs” that lines the sidewalk leading to the entrance of the Webster School.

Among those was a class of students who had driven up from Westchester, New York as a part of a school government class.

“She, like, touched my arm,” said Clara Henson, 17, one of many people to snag a selfie. “I tried to keep cool.”

Classmate Ella Chin, 17, kept her composure just a bit better.“I just told her thank you for fighting and thank you for continuing to fight,” she said.

Down the line, a few more classmates didn’t seem to ask for a selfie, but Warren pulled them in anyway.

“Hi guys how ya doing?” She said as they leaned in for a selfie, smiling with their signs for Andrew Yang.

“That was pretty fun,” Ty Cohen, 17, said after.

[11 February 2020 20:41 · Chris Riotta]

Clark Mindock reports from New Hampshire: 

Rich and Sarah Sigel showed up early at Manchester’s ward 1 — 5:30am and 7 am, respectively — to try and rally support for Amy Klobuchar. Polls opened at 6.

The way they see it, waking up at the crack of dawn is worth it to get the prime spot at the polling location— just on the corner where you can see everyone as they come by.

“As you come up the stairs to vote you get to see people and say, ‘thanks for coming out to vote!’l Rich explained as he all but shouted at someone coming up those stairs, jiggling his Klobuchar just a bit.

They like her moderate approach to politics, and think she can bring a lot of different factions together — even moderate Republicans.

“I think she’ll have a lot of momentum coming out of New Hampshire and that’s extremely good going forward,” Sarah said.

[11 February 2020 21:10 · Chris Riotta]

More reporting from The Independent's Clark Mindock as he covers voting in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary:

With all the Democrats running around this states it’s easy to forget that there’s a Republican primary going on right now, too.

Mel Pfiefer, 48, cast his ballot in Manchester’s ward 2, but originally declined to say who he voted for.

“I prefer to keep that private,” he said.

As volunteers for Buttigieg and Warren stood by thanking a slow stream of people as they left for voting, though, Pfeifer let down his guard a bit, and praised the president.

“I’m here for support. I think he’s done a great job,” he said.

So you voted for Trump? “Well, now you know,” he laughed.

Moments later, a Bill Weld voter came out from voting. “I just thought that was the best choice. I don’t worry about conventional wisdom. I don’t worry about what 90 per cent of people want.”