It's official: Jan. 8

Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:13 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli
New Hampshire voters now have something else to thankful for tomorrow -- the primary date has been set.

Secretary of State Bill Gardner has just announced that the first in the nation primary will be held on Jan. 8. In prepared remarks released to NBC/NJ and then made at press conference, Gardner said:

"On the eve of Thanksgiving, a uniquely American tradition, I am pleased to announce that another unique and important American tradition will endure," Gardner said. "New Hampshire has held the first presidential primary in the nation since 1920. The tradition has served our nation well as decades of candidates and presidents have said."

"Under the authority given to me by New Hampshire law, today I am setting Jan. 8 as the date of the New Hampshire primary."

EMAIL THIS

Comments

And the nation yawns.

S Lawrence Holmes (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:37 PM)

Who really cares what happens in New Hampshire?!? the median income is ten grand greater there than the national average, there are over a dozen cities that have greater populations than the entire state and more than 95% of the state is white. Those people do not in any way represent this nation as a whole. As a tradition, going first is the only way New Hampshire can get any media or candidate recognition. They can pretend that it's important all they want. Who really cares?

scott drake (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:49 PM)

Good call, glad he resisted the urge to move to December. Things are crazy enough as it is.

Josh Medeiros, Arlington, VA. (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:52 PM)

It might mean that a win in Iowa will have an immediate impact on New Hampshire.

Win Iowa and get a buss and a boost in NH
Win both and get a real leg up on South Carolina

A very quick primary season

Sierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:52 PM)

About time, and thanks Florida and Michigan for causing all these problems. Not the citizen's just the classless politicians that represent them.

Molly, Iowa City (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:52 PM)

This calendar shuffle is truly great news for Mitt Romney, and a blow to Giuliani. Michigan being on the 15th will allow to benefit fully from the momentum he will build in IA and NH. Full analysis of the consequences of the calendar settling down: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/great-news-for-romney-michigan-stays-on.html

Daniel, NY (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:57 PM)

Barack Obama is going to win Iowa and then the dominos fall. Independents in NH will vote in the Dem primary and will support Obama who has much greater appeal than Hillary. Then, South Carolina where over 1/2 of the Dem voters are black. They will forget their allegiance to Bill (not Hillary) Clinton to support Barack. Then, it'll be the 2/5 primaries where Barack will ride the momentum to victory based on his message of unity and common good. He's got a great organization here in Colorado.

Obama/Webb '08!
PS, anyone who thinks NH or IA don't matter shouldn't be on this website because they apparently know nothing about electoral politics.

Bob in Denver (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 4:59 PM)

scott drake: '...They can pretend that it's important all they want. Who really cares?...'

Scott, these are REAL VOTERS who REALLY CARE
I think they take the caucus seriously
Which is more than you can say for most primaries
The race here isn't about big bucks and media manipulation
It's more about 'retail politics'

The candidates have to interact with real people
That's important, cos they can't do that in a big state (like California)

If you notice, Huckabee is making real progress
He couldn't do that if the first primaries were in big states.
It would be about money and media campaigns

This is a highly educated population, who are motivated and who get to see the candidates 'up close and personal'

I'll take it !!
I'm hoping they'll see through Hillary !!
I'm hoping they'll vote for Edwards or Obama !

Let's see what happens
It'll determine the shape of the race

Sierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:01 PM)

looks like 3,5 and 8 are Hilary's then, any questions class

rosco45 (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:07 PM)

I hope that Clinton gets her act together and gets her husband and daughter involved to reach everyone,,
Im sorry that obama has not the experience and he talks a good talk and yet he doesnt know like hillary.. I hate to think black people would vote for him because hes black...
I also hope if Hillary gets the nomination she gets Gore to be her vp
shed be a shoe in!

m.sutphin, campbellsvile, ky. (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:56 PM)

I had a chance to listen to Sen. Barack Obama yesterday at Central High School on his education plan here in Manchester, Nh. He was able to persuade my decision and i think i will be voting for him. I just wish he picks Sen. John Edwards for running mate, i think they are both honest and trustworthy. We need someone we can trust and will tell the truth at all times. we have had an administration full of hiden information, it will a mistake to elect another person who we cant trust. I trust Sen. Obama when he say's, "You need to tell people what they need to hear no what you/they want to hear".

Quelina, Manchester, NH (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 6:16 PM)

m.sutphin... I hope woman aren't voting for Hilary because she's a woman. I can't imagine Gore would want to play second fiddle to Hilary AGAIN!

RAH (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 6:26 PM)

Remember that this nation was FORMED after RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE forced us out of Europe. Anyone NOT voting for Mitt Romney due to his religion should bear this in mind - and realize they are being prejudice.

Joe Wren South Carolina (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 6:43 PM)

We can all only hope that Ron Paul wins everyones vote.

Ron Paul 2008

Shayne Atlanta Ga (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:10 PM)

Great!! Will make January a very exciting month!! It's always such a cold depressing month here in the Northeast!!! Let the games begin!!!!!

modernwoman, Anytown,USA (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 7:28 PM)

Thank you so much Quelina and welcome aboard. With Barack Obama's presidency, we might be able to have the type of open gov't that I have been waiting for.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Marbw (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:01 PM)

How many of you have ever been to iowa or nh? Neither of these states come close to representing america . I cannot believe either party wants their candidates selected by the likes of them and SC.yikes

Jerry/Corpus Christi Texas (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 8:03 PM)

Yipee, Happy Turkey Day to all and Go Obama!

sonya, atlanta, ga (Sent Wednesday, November 21, 2007 9:58 PM)

It really upsets me to even think that NH and Iowa somehow think they should be the "first" in the nation. This whole idea that "they" are entitled to this tradition because they are more educated and take their politics more seriously in a up close and personal fashion than the rest of us only says to me that they consider themselves above the rest of the nation. I think its high time to knock them back down to the status of just another american state by having eveyone hold thier contest on the same day sometime in the last spring. I can not believe they actually think they are entitled to vote before the rest of us for any reason.

Paul Christopher Bell, Horn Lake, MS (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 6:45 AM)

I care what happens in New Hampshire. It is a cross section of voters who I believe are, for the most part, Independent. Iowa is another story. They are Midwesterners with a different set of values. I know this because I work in So. Florida with a cross-section of people and voters that are so diverse, it's almost crazy. This is the year to watch these early states, and because it is right after everyone barely took their tree down, it could get really interesting.

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:07 AM)

the only outcome of these primaries that they can elimate potenially good canadates because of the money leading canadates who dont care about the working class, and for the next 12 mos we have to suffer thru there lies and promises that they continue to make every time they run....How about a 6 mo. break and even playing field and not let the dollar be the decesion maker....God 12 more mos of this

Russ jWells Me (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 11:16 AM)

I live in California. I DON'T care how people in Iowa vote. I'll vote for the candidate I want regardless of how these early voting states vote. I would hope everyone else would do the same.

Ken, San Diego, CA (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 3:40 PM)

Paul Christopher Bell, Horn Lake, MS: '...I think its high time to knock them back down to the status of just another american state by having eveyone hold thier contest on the same day sometime in the last spring. I can not believe they actually think they are entitled to vote before the rest of us for any reason...'

Big problem, Paul
Doing it your way would ensure that the nomination would be decided by the best commercial.
Whoever could afford the most commercials would get the nomination.

Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing Mississippi being included among the first primary states.

I just think when you get large states with large media markets, you have problems with the process.
The rich candidates win
The candidates with the most special interest money

Again, look at the example of Huckabee.
He's have NO CHANCE in a national primary
He seems to be coming up by word of mouth
(kind of like Ron Paul)

I'm not in favor of either of them...
But, it seems like the pesent system gives the 'little guy' a better chance that a national primary would.

And yeah, Iowa and New Hampshire voters seem more interested and focused in their contests.
I've never been to either, I have no connection with either....

But, I say let these two states continue to start the primary season.

I'm too stuffed to continue

Sierra, SF (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:13 PM)

I do care. It's too bad there is NO coverage of "alternate candidates and parties." I have not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972 (no, I did not vote for Nixon that year). Reason: Most current "Republican candidates" are no different from their Democrat counterparts.

George Citrus Heights, CA (Sent Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:45 PM)

As a Ron Paul supporter, I am disappointed that New Hampshire DIDN'T move their primary up to Dec 11.
Now we have to wait another month to see the stunning Ron Paul victory.

Angelo, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, November 23, 2007 1:16 AM)

People need to stop dreaming, wishing and hoping, Mrs. Clinton will be the next President, so get ready and get use to it!!!

Mrs. Dee (Sent Friday, November 23, 2007 2:33 AM)

Jerry/Corpus Christi Texas wrote, "How many of you have ever been to iowa or nh? Neither of these states come close to representing america . I cannot believe either party wants their candidates selected by the likes of them and SC.yikes"

Jerry, of course no one thinks a State with a motto like "Live Free or Die" would be a good representation of America.

Your lack of intelligence astounds me.

PS: Quelina, I'd love to see Barak run with Edwards as his running mate as well.

Andrew Gregoire, Lee, New Hampshire (Sent Friday, November 23, 2007 6:55 AM)

"I do care. It's too bad there is NO coverage of "alternate candidates and parties." I have not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1972 (no, I did not vote for Nixon that year). Reason: Most current "Republican candidates" are no different from their Democrat counterparts."

Now we have a true Republican candidate... come on you all know who im talking about...

Ron Paul

Jonathan Temple, Texas (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 9:45 AM)

Does anyone even understand how these primaries work anyways?!?! I for one don't, and in fact think the whole system is bunk and needs changing. What chance do long-shots have, and how do people in obscure states who go last in the primaries feel when the candidates are basically already picked before they get the chance to vote? It's bunk.

Annette, Portland, OR (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 1:10 PM)

Mrs. Dee:'...People need to stop dreaming, wishing and hoping, Mrs. Clinton will be the next President, so get ready and get use to it!!!...'

NO!
SHE WON'T !!
Hillary Clinton is too corrupt and dishonest to be President !!

She FLIP FLOPPED in IDs for illegal aliens during the debates !!

Barbara Bush has more 'experience' than Hillary
She was First Lady for 4 years under the first Bush
She was the VP's wife for 8 years under Reagan !!

Why don't you support Barbara Bush ?
She's a lot less unethical than Hillary
... and she never swindled anyone at Whitewater

Edwards/Obama '08
Honesty, Integrity, Reform

Sierra, SF (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 7:13 PM)

Sierra is right on. One national primary would mean only the richest have even a chance. No one gets face time, it's all who has the best commercials and who can make the best 30-second sound bites. Here in Iowa, you have an opportunity to meet the candidates, and to go to smaller events where you can actually hear them speak for prolonged periods of time. There is rarely a week that goes by that one of the candidates isn't within an hour of me. As Sierra said, it's all about retail politics here.

I think that people underestimate the types of people that reside in Iowa. I grew up in a very well educated city, the home of the University of Iowa, and believe me...you could hardly cross the street without running into someone with a post-graduate degree. We represent a fair cross-section of America, because whether those in big cities want to admit it or not, most of America does NOT live in a big city. Most of America can identify with smaller cities, the kinds that are common in Iowa.

That being said, I don't think Iowa is automatically entitled to be first in the nation. I'm very proud of the fact that we are, and that we take it so seriously, but I am not opposed to rotating the early states - so long as the states rotated into the mix are similar to Iowa in that they don't represent only big-city interests, and create the problems Sierra mentioned with money being the be-all end-all of who gets nominated.

I want the BEST candidate to emerge from the nominating contests - not the best FUNDED candidate. By holding the early primaries in smaller states, there is a better chance of that happening.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 7:46 PM)

NH don't mean squat.

Remember McCain in 2000?

The South again, will determine the election, and if Billary gets the nomination, look forward to another 8 years of a Republican Presidency b/c the Dems are too stupid to pick real winners to run.

RK (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:11 AM)

I'm voting for Ron Paul

supporttheonlyhonestcandidaterunning (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 5:45 PM)

I spent 4 years attending college in Iowa. I will echo what Carrie said. The people there take the responsibility of going first VERY seriously. Attendance at the caucuses is extremely high in most places. Turn out at events for ALL the candidates, not just the ones the MSM claim to be the "front-runners", get high turn out for people to hear what they have to say in an extended period of time and not the sound bite you'd hear in a commercial or at a debate.

Iowa is one of, if not the most highly educated, populace in the country when it comes to people with degrees, not just post-grad, but there are a lot of them around. They listen, they ask well-pointed questions of the candidates and expect nothing less than the full answer. Not being forthcoming to these people will cost you dearly come election day.

From all I've come to understand about NH, the same applies there as well in terms of people turning out to events to hear the candidates, ask them questions, etc. They take it as an honor to be the first to cast ballots every four years and they take it seriously.

I would be totally against a national primary for exactly the reasons Sierra mention. It is the reason why we don't already have it. Some groups have attempted to change it in the past, but the current format works just fine. The fact that other, less respected, less knowledgeable states want to steal the spotlight means that some people are desperate to hold on to power. It sucks and I would have hoped that both parties would have done something to stop it.

Mike K, Denver (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 11:57 PM)

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