Biden New Hampshire Write-In Campaign Humbles Democratic Challengers

President Joe Biden's write-in campaign in New Hampshire paid off as he sailed to victory in the primary election despite not appearing on the ballot.

Both CNN and Fox News called New Hampshire's Democratic primary for Biden at about 8 p.m. Tuesday. He defeated Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips and author Marianne Williamson with his write-in campaign, which his supporters in New Hampshire launched for him after he declined to appear on the state's ballot over a dispute about its placement in the primary schedule.

Last year, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) approved a new schedule that bumped South Carolina ahead of New Hampshire in the primary schedule. National Democrats argued that the change would empower Black voters, who tend to dominate the Palmetto State's Democratic primary.

The move enraged some New Hampshire Democrats, who argued that New Hampshire should retain its "first-in-the-nation" primary status. The Granite State has long held the first primary election in the country, though Iowa traditionally holds its caucuses before the New Hampshire primary. It has a law requiring the secretary of state to move the primary a week before the earliest scheduled contest.

As a result of the disagreement, Biden declined to appear on the ballot. New Hampshire's 33 delegates will not be bound by the primary results, making the race mostly symbolic, with the DNC previously calling the primary "meaningless."

Still, supporters of Biden sought to ensure his victory in New Hampshire to prevent potential embarrassment from his Democratic rivals, who have argued that the party needs new leadership ahead of the election.

New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said his office was investigating reports of a robocall that allegedly used artificial intelligence to impersonate Biden. The phone message appeared to be Biden telling voters to stay home from the polls because their vote "makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday," his office wrote in a press release Monday.

Formella urged voters to "disregard the content" of the message, which he warned may have bean an "unlawful attempt to disrupt the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Election and to suppress New Hampshire voters."

"The message appears to have been 'spoofed' to falsely show that it had been sent by the treasurer of a political committee that has been supporting the New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary write-in efforts for President Biden," the statement said. "The message's content directed recipients who wished to be removed from a calling list to call the number belonging to this person."

The New Hampshire primary serves as the first nominating contest of the season for Democrats. Presidential hopefuls will next face off in South Carolina on February 3. Voters in Nevada, which is a swing state in the general election, will make their choices on February 6.