Booker scales back campaign in New Hampshire

[brooklynite]

Politico

CONCORD, N.H. — Cory Booker’s campaign held five events in New Hampshire this week. But one thing was notably missing from all of them: Cory Booker himself.

With his campaign struggling to gain traction in early state polls, Booker has gone all-in on Iowa and South Carolina -- and all but vanished from New Hampshire.

While his campaign denies it’s pulling out of the first-in-the-nation primary state, local Democrats have taken notice of his reduced presence.

“It’s increasingly obvious that candidates that frequent N.H. venues, living rooms and larger, are those that pull ahead in support here,” Democratic former state Senate President Sylvia Larsen said in an email. “If you’re a candidate that avoids this close-up scrutiny it will reflect in poll numbers. NH voters track and support those willing to participate in close conversation with us. Cory is an inspirational orator who, perhaps due to lack of specificity, has not resonated with our voters. While Booker’s departure from NH is understandable, his NH results will reflect this early departure.”

Booker hasn’t been to New Hampshire since before Thanksgiving. While he had three events scheduled for Friday, he missed them because he had the flu, according to his campaign.