MANCHESTER, NH — In the end, the sisterhood didn't come through for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire.
Despite her team's pointed references to Clinton's history-making potential — and even some chiding of younger women in Bernie Sanders' camp — the former secretary of state lost among women in New Hampshire by eleven points, according to exit polls.
Full New Hampshire Primary Results
In 2008, women helped fuel Clinton's comeback win against Barack Obama, backing her by double digits over her Democratic rival. A late-contest moment of exhaustion when her voice became thick with emotion was widely credited with winning over the sympathies of women who related to her tenacity in the face of hard times.
But there was no such renaissance for the aspiring first female president this time around.
Clinton's gender had been front-and-center during the final days of the primary contest in the Granite State, and her top surrogates did not shy away from questioning the younger generations of women who have flocked to support rival Bernie Sanders' campaign.
"We can tell our story of how we climbed the ladder, and a lot of you younger women think it’s done,” said former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, citing the struggle for women's equality while introducing Clinton at an event. “It’s not done. There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!”
Related: N.H. Loss Reveals Underlying Weaknesses of Clinton Candidacy
While the comment is one she has often made in the past, Albright's assertion raised eyebrows for drawing such a direct line between Clinton's gender and calls to support her over Sanders.
Former president Bill Clinton also ripped Sanders supporters for what he called "sexist " and "profane" language about his wife, accusing some rival fans of "vicious trolling" about Clinton's femininity.
Famed feminist Gloria Steinem went even further, suggesting in an interview with TV host Bill Maher that young women act infatuated with the Vermont senator in the effort to win the affections of his young male fans. "When you’re young, you’re thinking: 'Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie,'" she said.
Steinhem later apologized for the remark.
