Question about the NH primary....

[vi5]

At this point, why is there still such tremendous hoo-ha over the NH primary? Didn't Pat Buchanan win the New Hampshire primary? Didn't John McCain? I know those are both republican examples, but still. I'm not sure who won it for the Dems back in 1992. But after several high profile examples of what seem like what I'll call "message votes", designed more to puff up their chests and be contrarian more so than anything else, isn't it silly to still put so much stock in that one primary?

I know that a lot of it is rooted in tradition and more power to NH. But ultimately does the winner of that primary have as much of a super strong advantage as people make out or is it still a lot of insider political fluff?

[meegbear]

1. It's the first ...

that's about it.

[jeter]

2. NH isn't that important

except if you're Dean or Kerry. Being from a nearby state means that they have to win.

If they lose, they're out.

[izzie]

3. Well I used to be a NH voter and I think this, and could be wrong.

It is first and used to be a sort of well balanced look at the US but I do not think so any more. It is also easy to get around and meet people and they were interested in it all.It was a good meeting of who was running and every day people, that voted. I would like to see every state do this but I feel it is sort rigged now. My mother-in-law used to work in the press room of a NH paper and they all went through so she would get to meet them all.

[Bronco69]

4. Maybe another state needs to

make their promary a week before NH.

[Braden]

5. Granite State Native here

its been a good indicator over time of who will get the nomination. I voted for McCain in NH in 2000 as a registered independent in hopes of helping to derail the Bush machine. And it didnt matter, the RNC had only one puppet in mind.

Buchanan finished a close second in 1992 and that was seen as enough to derail GWHB. 1992 I believe William Jefferson Clinton won New Hampshire.

It's the opening salvo of election season and somewhat important. The people of New Hampshire take their primary election very seriously and vote accordingly. I think its over-hyped but the results have, historically, spoken for themselves.