Biden is TRAILING Pete Buttigieg in key state of New Hampshire

President Joe Biden finds himself trailing Pete Buttigieg in the latest New Hampshire poll where he is tied with Sen. Elizabeth Warren among Democrats – in a state that gave his successful 2020 campaign a rocky start.

Biden’s overall popularity is also narrowly under water among Democrats in the state, where some party leaders have warned he could be vulnerable to an internecine challenge due to his low popularity.

Biden, 80, is reportedly planning to launch his presidential reelection campaign next month, with a run that would likely clear much of the field, even amid some Democratic grousing about his performance.

The special counsel probing classified documents uncovered at his home and office ads another wrinkle, likely dulling an attack he would have used against Trump, who was revealed to have hundreds of documents marked classified at Mar-a-Lago.

President Joe Biden trails Pete Buttigieg in latest New Hampshire poll, in a state where he came in fifth in 2020

Buttigieg led likely Democrats with 23 per cent in the new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll. 

Biden, who came in fifth in New Hampshire in 2020, trails with 18 per cent, tied with the liberal Warren, who has been a supporter of his agenda in the Senate.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who visited the White House this week, is at 15 per cent, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez at 6 per cent and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar at 5 per cent.

That shows an uptick for Buttigieg, the telegenic Transportation Secretary who has moved his official residence to Michigan. Back in July, they were virtually tied, with Buttigieg at 17 and Biden at 16 per cent.

Sanders barely edged Buttigieg to win New Hampshire in 2020. 

It also follows some bad press nationally for Buttigieg, amid a series of travel crises and reports about him traveling and being on paternity leave during supply chain and travel disruptions. 

The president is tied for second place among likely Democratic voters in New Hampshire

Buttigieg has been a telegenic spokesman for the administration, although he has had to answer for some of the travel mayhem in recent months

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Liberal Sen. Elizabeth Warren is running even with Biden in the state

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders captured the neighboring state in the 2020 primary

Leading among ‘second choice’ candidates is Vice President Kamala Harris, who is set to attend an event with Biden next week in Philadelphia.

Two-thirds of state Democrats definitely or probably don’t want Biden to run, compared to 27 per cent who do.

His favorability is at 49 per cent, with a slight 51 per cent majority viewing him either unfavorably or neutral – all among likely Democratic voters.

It is not yet clear which if any Democrats would challenge an incumbent Biden, as he seeks to turn back Donald Trump and other Republicans. Author, activist and ‘spiritual advisor’ Marianne Williamson is planning to visit the state in the coming weeks, indicating a possible challenge.

Biden will try to run on his record on the economy and having beaten Donald Trump once before. The U.S. economy grew by 2.9 per cent in the last quarter, based on government statistics released Thursday.