SALEM, N.H. — Joe Biden has said he doesn’t need to win the first presidential primary state in the nation — and he’s campaigning like it.

Biden has been dark on New Hampshire television since the New Year. He has a smaller presence on the ground compared to his rivals, barely takes questions from voters, and he’s trailing in the polls here.

Biden’s New Hampshire media buys, events and overall footprint indicates it’s the early state that’s getting relatively short shrift so he can more effectively contest the other three before Super Tuesday.

The former veep’s campaign stresses he’s not writing off New Hampshire, that he has more major endorsements here than any other candidate and visited last Friday and Saturday. But in recent weeks, Biden has intensified his focus on the two states whose caucuses bookend the Granite State’s Feb. 11 primary — Iowa and Nevada — according to those familiar with the campaign’s strategy

New Hampshire has always been a tough state for the Democrat. When he was considering a 2016 bid, internal polling showed he would do badly there — in part because he would face neighboring state Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Now Biden faces Sanders and another next-door senator, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, along with former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.