New Hampshire Presidential Primary Set for Jan. 8 (Back to First-in-Nation Status)

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Source: Associated Press

N.H. presidential primary set for Jan. 8
By BEVERLEY WANG, Associated Press Writer
Wed Nov 21, 5:37 PM ET

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire set its earliest-ever presidential primary on Wednesday, deciding on Jan. 8 and claiming its traditional spot as the nation's first in a nomination season pushed almost to New Year's Day of the election year.

The decision ends months of speculation, including the possibility that the state might actually move its primary into December to keep its spot at the head of the line. Iowa, which chooses delegates with a caucus system, begins five days earlier on Jan. 3.

New Hampshire primaries often have shaped presidential contests — sometimes dramatically — for nearly a century. Next year's early date, less than seven weeks from now, resulted from states around the country scheduling their own early primaries and caucuses to attract candidates before the major party nominees are chosen. As a result, both the Democratic and Republican nominees are likely to be effectively known by Feb. 5, when 22 states vote, if not earlier.

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By letting New Hampshire follow Iowa, Gardner left intact the traditional one-two-punch that the two states wield in presidential politics. On the Democratic side, keeping Iowa first is good news for Barack Obama and John Edwards, who are in a virtual tie with Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state but trails her in New Hampshire and elsewhere. Republican Mike Huckabee, who is inching up on Mitt Romney, is also counting on a strong showing in Iowa to catapult him into contention in other states where he trails.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071121/ap_on_el_pr/primary_calendar

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