HOOKSETT, New Hampshire, United States (Reuters) — U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton congratulated rival Bernie Sanders on Tuesday (February 9) after he won the New Hampshire primary.
“I want to begin by congratulating Senator Sanders on his victory tonight and I want to thank each and every one of you,” she told supporters at a rally in the town of Hooksett, accompanied by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea Clinton.
Sanders, a senator from Vermont who describes himself as a democratic socialist, has called for eradicating income inequality, breaking up the big banks and providing free college tuition.
He had 59 percent of the vote based on about 32 percent of the vote, ahead of former Secretary of State Clinton, who had 39 percent, CNN said.
During her speech, Clinton defended her progressive stances and vowed to be the candidate who fixes problems and not just state them.
She appealed to African-American and Latino voters and acknowledged she had work to do winning over young voters.
“We also have to break through the barriers of bigotry. African American parents shouldn’t have to worry that their children will be harassed, humiliated — even shot –because of the color of their skin,” Clinton said.
“Immigrant families shouldn’t have to lay awake at night listening for a knock on the door,” she added.
Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a memo that she and Sanders had “split” the first two nominating contests – Clinton won Iowa last week – and said the Democratic nomination would “very likely” be decided in March.
The Clinton campaign said the support of black and Hispanic voters would be key to victory.
Before exiting the stage, Clinton vowed to keep campaigning hard, “We’ve learned it’s not whether you get knocked down that matters, it’s whether you get back up,” she said.
The next primary races are in Nevada and South Carolina later this month.
