This is by Hugh Gregg from The NH Almanac
It shows why NH is so important...
and I have to agree. My main point in wanting someone that will appeal to all voters (including those that built Vegas) is that I'm unhappy with the fiscal policies of Bush.
That we are discerning in assessing their potential is indicated by our experience over the years in correctly identifying the next president, while eliminating the weaker candidates whose efforts are usually terminated here, or soon thereafter. Columnist David Broder said it well, "I am firmly of the belief that the term 'front ninner' should never be applied to anyone until the voters in New Hampshire have performed their God-given right to sort out and shrink the presidential nomination field."
Only once since the start of the primaries have we made a misjudgment. The winner in 1992 who didn't make it to the White House was favored solely because he was a well known U.S. Senator from a neighboring state. Brian Lamb, president of C-Span, said our primary is "always going to be important ... because you're smart enough to figure out for yourselves if a candidate is pulling your chain."
Up here the candidate also gets measured by the weather. We figure that any foreigner who can slosh around in our snowdrifts without catching pneumonia or distemper can withstand the rigors of the presidency. The only other small primary state which might match that challenge would be North Dakota, but they honor our tradition by scheduling their primary a week after ours and mail in their ballots.
Because the candidates have more campaign time here, they frequently visit our high schools and colleges. Teachers devote classroom hours to the primary process and mock elections are held, where the candidates appear. Questions asked by students differ markedly from those of the standard press conference. Such opportunities not only serve to excite fresh perspectives, but provide the candidate with support from first-time voters, many of whom would otherwise have no interest in the primary process.
Since the mid- I 800s when New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, was President, the state has generally elected Republicans as its leaders at all levels of government. After the introduction of the presidential primary, voter registration has consistently held a rough average of 38% Republican, 32% Democrat, and 30% Independent. This has provided a sound sampling for either a Republican or Democratic primary.
It shows why NH is so important...
and I have to agree. My main point in wanting someone that will appeal to all voters (including those that built Vegas) is that I'm unhappy with the fiscal policies of Bush.
That we are discerning in assessing their potential is indicated by our experience over the years in correctly identifying the next president, while eliminating the weaker candidates whose efforts are usually terminated here, or soon thereafter. Columnist David Broder said it well, "I am firmly of the belief that the term 'front ninner' should never be applied to anyone until the voters in New Hampshire have performed their God-given right to sort out and shrink the presidential nomination field."
Only once since the start of the primaries have we made a misjudgment. The winner in 1992 who didn't make it to the White House was favored solely because he was a well known U.S. Senator from a neighboring state. Brian Lamb, president of C-Span, said our primary is "always going to be important ... because you're smart enough to figure out for yourselves if a candidate is pulling your chain."
Up here the candidate also gets measured by the weather. We figure that any foreigner who can slosh around in our snowdrifts without catching pneumonia or distemper can withstand the rigors of the presidency. The only other small primary state which might match that challenge would be North Dakota, but they honor our tradition by scheduling their primary a week after ours and mail in their ballots.
Because the candidates have more campaign time here, they frequently visit our high schools and colleges. Teachers devote classroom hours to the primary process and mock elections are held, where the candidates appear. Questions asked by students differ markedly from those of the standard press conference. Such opportunities not only serve to excite fresh perspectives, but provide the candidate with support from first-time voters, many of whom would otherwise have no interest in the primary process.
Since the mid- I 800s when New Hampshire's Franklin Pierce, a Democrat, was President, the state has generally elected Republicans as its leaders at all levels of government. After the introduction of the presidential primary, voter registration has consistently held a rough average of 38% Republican, 32% Democrat, and 30% Independent. This has provided a sound sampling for either a Republican or Democratic primary.
