Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg takes to the stage to speak at his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.

I covered the two final days of New Hampshire's 2020 First in the Nation Primary for Time magazine, focusing mostly on the campaigns of Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren. Writing now, a few months later, it's hard to believe that Joe Biden abandoned the state before the votes were cast and also mind-boggling to see these huge crowds of people almost exactly a month before the pandemic shut everything down.

Huge thanks to Paul and Kim asking me to contribute to the magazine's coverage. I worked with them to cover the 2019 Iowa State Fair, as well, and it's always such a privilege and honor to have their support.

A view of the polling place during the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Bedford High School in Bedford, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
A campaign sign for Democratic presidential candidate and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar lays on the ground outside a polling place for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at  in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Media surrounds Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren as she greets supporters outside a polling place for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
People arrive for Merrimack Ward 1 Primary Voting at James Mastricola Upper Elementary School in Merrimack, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Trump surrogate and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski speaks on a talk radio show at Radio Row in DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Trump memorabilia and souvenirs were for sale in a vendor's kiosk on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
A glove featuring the name Trump is seen on the ground on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Media surrounds Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren as she greets supporters outside a polling place for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Campaign signs for Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg are seen after his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.
People watch the results come in and await the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg at his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.
People listen as actor Kevin Costner speaks to campaign workers and volunteers at a Pete for America field office on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at a campaign rally at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
People enter a rally for Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
Julia Jefka holds son Isaac Jefka (6 months) before a rally for Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls. Julia Jefka said she was undecided but likely voting for Sanders or Warren. "I'm a Vermonter born and raised, so it's tough," she said. Her grandmother served with Bernie Sanders in the Vermont state legislature, she said.
Edward Kimmel, of Takoma Park, Maryland, holds banners he made using photos he took of Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren before a campaign rally for the candidate at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. The opposite side of one banner says "Warren Whips Trump." This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
Media await the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg at his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.
An NHPR reporter interviews audience members after Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
Media await the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren outside a polling place for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
A photographer points their camera through the curtain as Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren speaks at a campaign rally at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
A sign points the way to the media entrance for a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
A woman watches as Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren speaks about the treatment of undocumented immigrant children at Rochester Opera House in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This is the final day of campaigning before voting in the primary happens on Feb. 11. Warren has fallen to 4th or 5th place in recent polls.
Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg greets people at a campaign rally at Exeter High School in Exeter, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. This was Buttigieg's final campaign rally on the day before voting takes place in the New Hampshire presidential primary. Recent polls have placed Buttigieg and Sanders as top contenders in the race.
DNC member and Democratic party strategist Bob Mulholland, of Chico, Cali., wears a hat he made himself that reads "Make the White House Great Again" while speaking with LA Times reporters Melanie Mason (left) and David Lauter at the Airport Diner in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020. Mulholland says this is the 8th primary he has attended starting in 1992. He says New Hampshire is the "best place for retail politics." Asked what would make the White House great again, Mulholland said, "Put a Democrat in the White House." Mulholland said that the Tuesday primary vote would clear the field. "On Wednesday a lot will be suspending their campaigns. 'Spend more time with their families.' That's what they all say. You know what I say? If they wanted to spend more time with their family they wouldn't be in politics."
People hold campaign signs for Democratic presidential candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang outside a New Hampshire Presidential Primary polling place at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Assistant moderator Steve Dembow (center) and Supervisor of the Checklist Margie Petrovic stand near electronic ballot inspectors marked R and D for Republican and Democrat as Merrimack Ward 1 Primary Voting begins at James Mastricola Upper Elementary School in Merrimack, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
John LaBeaume, Deputy Communications Director for Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, is seen in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
A campaign office for Democratic presidential candidate and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
People gather in Radio Row at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the day of New Hampshire Presidential Primary voting in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. The hotel is known by political junkies as a place to see major players in the election.
Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg embraces husband Chasten Buttigieg after speaking at his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.
Campaign signs for Democratic presidential candidate and Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren lay on the ground outside a polling place for the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Webster Elementary School in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
Media watch results come in and await the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg at his Primary Night rally at Nashua Community College in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020. Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders was projected to win the New Hampshire Democratic Primary, but Buttigieg came in a close second.
People vote in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary at Bedford High School in Bedford, New Hampshire, on Tue., Feb. 11, 2020.
A temporary sign displays the message "Presidential Primary Election / Tues Feb 11 / 7:00AM to 7:00PM" in the parking lot outside the Merrimack Fire Department Reeds Ferry Station in  Merrimack, New Hampshire, on Mon., Feb. 10, 2020.
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