CONCORD – New Hampshire has been the first in the primary since 1952, and this streak does not appear to be changing any time soon.
On April 27 Governor Lynch signed a law that gives the state the flexibility to move and set its primary date in order to preserve the status of first in the nation. The law also gives the secretary of state the ability to set the filing period for presidential candidates.
The competition for the 2008 primary is California. A lawmaker made it public that he intends to make his state the first in the primary.
New Hampshire has for fifty-four years, been making and breaking presidential candidates and that is the grassroots tradition that New Hampshire looks to protect.
If a candidate does well in the NH primary they will do really well, receiving media attention and funding. If a candidate does poorly it usually results in a drop out.
The media attention that NH gets due to its primary status makes the state a major influential power and the outcome is often echoed in other Democratic states to follow.
Since the late 70’s NH has been fighting to keep its status as first in the nation primary. The Democratic National Committee, who recommended a few primaries coming before New Hampshire, must approve any changes in the primary calendar.
With the new law in place it is unlikely that NH will lose its position.