Be a part of the conversation on cspan. Org campgn 2024 d share the issue most important to you. We want to introduce you to peter sullivan. Mr. Sullivan, when did you move to New Hampshire. 1980 was the first time i got to see a years old. It was lost on me at that point but you accumulate stories very quickly. She was the one person in town who di forshe was a ted kennedy supporter but she wound up taking his picture for the paper. Something most people in town would have killed for, but she was horrified. Every but as far as being active, within the 1988 cycle. You are 19 years old . I was 19 years old and i volunteered for joe biden early on. Rkl d about the process, how the game is played from that experience. We did well, we did not win but we exceeded expectations. In early 1987i got in touch with joe bidens local people and set i am interested in hel what was it about joe biden . A few things. He comes a similar background as my own. He went to an all boys fairly serious about his catholicism. Has a sister who is definitely smarter than he is. And he spoke my language as an idealistic young Irish Catholic democrat, just getting involved in politics. On a substantive level i was impres policy. Race relations of the time there was apartheid in south africa and President Biden was a strong voice against the south african government and for change. And in latin america, president reagans policies were in my opinion terribly counterproductive and joe biden was vocal about the ne a different approach to that part of the world. That impressed me and at the time, it is kind of funny. Now joe biden is americas uncle. The elder statesmanin 1987, he was the pete of the time the young, articulate new face on the scene. It was somewhat invigorating to have idealism and enthusiasm to the political process. That appealed to me as someone istic, just getting involved. It is 1988, New Hampshire primary. What did you do for joe biden . At that Time Campaign stops were smaller than they are now. We had eight or nine people wo in the office. Joe dropped out of the race. Yes, there was the speech about education which he attributed numerous times i saw him give a speech and he said all it takes is one misstep and someone will take it away. Campaign really cemented how i felt about joe. He came back to after he announced he was suspending the campaign and he came to the headquarters which is just behind us. He looked at the headquarters and told the press wait downstairs, we will get to you. Us, one by one, staffers, volunteers, local leadership types, he spoke oneonone. Apologized, thanked us for what weve done and said do not get discouraged. He did not have to do that and a lot of politicians would not have done that, but he took that time for 19 or 20yearo kids who were working 16 hour days for him for all of these months. It showsnot a politician, but a person. That quiet character means a lot. Do any of these buttons that you brought dave back to 1988 . These are from last time around. This was a Senate Campaign button. He basically used of the every campaign from 1972 on. He has run for president a couple of other times prior to 2020. Did you work for him . Not in 2008. I supported barack obama before joe got into the race so it was a little uncomfortable. And it all worked out perfectly. You got a signed book in 2008 when he was running for Vice President , when he came up. Yes. What is your take, peter sullivan, on the fact that the nationalrashire . I understand the reasoning for doing so. You about New Hampshires cultural diversity. The lack extreme as people assume it is. From thebosnia. When i was in the legislature i represented what had to be the most ethnically, culturally diverse sector in manchester but a with a large africanamerican population, a Latino Community they are a little pushed aside. I wish that we could have worked out some sort of arrangement perhaps a rotating system. 1, 2 and three a cycle. I think historically the beauty of the primary is we are a small state. Very easyo me people on a oneonone basis. When i was 12 years old i was able to go and see phil crane, a congressman running for the republican party. I saw him at a town hall. I met Jessie Jackson when i was in high school in my hometown. You have opportunities that you do not see in larger states. In law school one of my good friends was a conservative republican, a big stevei came home for break and forbes was at the town hall where my brother worked at the time. I went over and forbes was giving away copies of his Campaign Book and i had him sign a copy to my friend. My friend was from california. His district is the size of the state of New Hampshire. Yo he thought it was an amazing miraculous accomplishment to get a signature. And where my mom works. It is Something Special that we have here because it is an open process, plus it is a strange system that iess only wants, thankfully. It is an open, grassroots approach that we have. I think there should be a place for a state like this, where a candidate can come up and on a lowbudget run a person to Person Campaign and have a viable shot. Gary hart, p who were not the Party Old Guard favorites were able to come here. You can do that in New Hampshire. You could not do that in pennsylvania california, florida. A state like that. Think joe biden is the same guy he was in 1988 when you started working for him . I ways, yes. At his core, he still is. Have the years tempered him . Eryone. Im not the same i was at 19 or 20 years old and he is not the same person as he was when he nto his 40s. I think there is a greater sense of purpose, sense of selfconfidence. I yeah, i thi know, as time goes on, you learn what really matters and sometimes your ambition can overwhelm you. I dont think it ever overwhelmed him. And i think sometimes there are things that went differently in that campaign. He made the right call tomp in 1987. He was able to focus on his work in the senate and became a better senator and earned this reputation as an elder statesman within the american political scene. Will you be writing in joe biden on tuesday in the primary . Absolutely. This is his last tprimary ballot, my last opportunity to vote here and im going to take the opportunity to write him in. Tueay night watch cspans coverage of the New Hampshire president ial primary, unfiltered and uninterrupted. We bring you primarywe will take your calls and get your reaction on social media. Watch live coverage. Tuesday night at now or online at cspan. Org campaign 2024. Ctered view of government. Cspan now is available on the apple e apple play. Download it for free or visit cspan. Org cspan now. Cspan now, your front row seat to washington, anytime anywhere. Cspans washington journal vernment politics and public policy. From washington dc and across the country. Tuesday morning, university of New Hampshirente discusses the history and future of the New Hampshire primary and then it New Hampshire special committee on ballot talks about increasing confidence in elections. And msnbc political distributor James Pendleton on the 2024 New Hampshire primary. Washington journalsation live at 7 00 eastern Tuesday Morning on cspan, cspan now or online at cspan. Org. 2020 four democratic president ial hopeful dean nashua, New Hampshire on the eve of the first in the nation primary. The representative highlighted proposals, Foreign Policy and social security. Its about one hour