Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) brushed off concerns about the viability of his campaign after a poor performance in the Iowa Caucus.
In an interview on “CBS This Morning,” the presidential hopeful struck an optimistic tone for the future of his campaign, even as recent polls have shown his support in New Hampshire taking a dip ahead of that state’s primary.
“Nothing’s going to happen until we get down to a place and around the country where there’s a lot more diversity,” Biden said, indicating he’s banking on states that are more diverse to boost his campaign.
“And, you know, you’re always behind the eight-ball when you’re running in New Hampshire if you have two people from the neighboring states,” he added, noting that Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.) come from states bordering the Granite state.
Watch the interview below:
Voters in New Hampshire will head to the polls starting at midnight tonight for tomorrow's primary. Former Vice President @JoeBiden hopes to boost his chances ahead of the vote.
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 10, 2020
Biden joins us now from Nashua, New Hampshire. pic.twitter.com/669N5oIADX
Biden’s comments come after he came in fourth place in the Iowa Caucus, and recent polls appear to show a collapse in Biden’s support in New Hampshire, while former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) has surged to second place after a narrow victory in Iowa.
Responding to skepticism that he would be able to pull off a win after poor showings in the first two contests, Biden touted national polls that have still found him leading the pack.
“The other voters out there represent a significant portion of the American people, and they look like America,” Biden said, adding, “I don’t see any diminution in national support, I’m still leading nationally. The idea that this is you know if you come in third or fourth in the first two primaries … a caucus and a primary that that knocks you out of the box, we’re just getting going.”
The most recent average of national polls shows Biden leading the candidates for the Democratic nomination. However, that average does not include any polls that have been conducted since the Iowa Caucus.
Similarly, an average of polls from South Carolina shows Biden with a double-digit lead, but the latest survey was conducted Jan. 26 through Feb. 2.
Biden’s campaign has maintained that the South Carolina primary, which takes place on Feb. 29, will boost his campaign. Polls have found that Biden receives the most support from African American voters among the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. However, it’s yet to be seen if he can turn out those voters and get the boost his campaign is looking for.
It’s too early to tell based on polling how Biden’s performance in Iowa will impact his campaign in the future, but The Washington Post reports that campaign staffers are “rattled” by his performance there.
