(4 Feb 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus047622
WITH THE IOWA CAUCUSES OUT OF THE WAY –
THE NEXT TEST FOR THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS IS NEW HAMPSHIRE'S FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PRIMARY.
AND THE SMALL STATE OF 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE CAN HAVE A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON A CANDIDATE'S PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS.
BUT HOW IS IT CONSIDERED THE "FIRST-IN-THE-NATION"?
IT'S ALL IN THE WORDING.
IOWA USES A CAUCUS SYSTEM, COMPRISED OF MEETING OF MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL PARTY.
NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTES IN A PRIMARY, AN OFFICIAL ELECTION THAT SELECTS A CANDIDATE.
THOUGH IOWA VOTES FIRST, NEW HAMPSHIRE GETS TO CLAIM "FIRST-IN-THE-NATION" AS THE FIRST PRIMARY IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
WHAT ELSE DISTINGUISHES THESE TWO CONTESTS?
UNLIKE IOWA, INDEPENDENT VOTERS GET A SAY IN THE GRANITE STATE.
MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS ARE UNDECLARED IN A POLITICAL PARTY –
GIVING THEM THE POWER TO CHOOSE ON ELECTION DAY WHICH PRIMARY THEY WANT TO VOTE IN.
NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS HAD MIXED RESULTS AT PREDICTING THE NOMINEE.
FOR THE DEMOCRATS, AL GORE AND JOHN KERRY WENT ON TO WIN THE NOMINATION AFTER TAKING NEW HAMPSHIRE.
BUT HILLARY CLINTON FELL SHORT IN 2008.
FOR THE REPUBLICANS, JOHN MCCAIN LOST THE NOMINATION AFTER WINNING NEW HAMPSHIRE –
TO GEORGE W. BUSH IN 2000.
BUT HE BOUNCED BACK IN 2008, WINNING BOTH NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE GOP NOMINATION.
ROMNEY DID THE SAME IN 2012.
AN ADDED QUIRK IN THIS PRIMARY?
THE MIDNIGHT VOTERS.
UNDER NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW, COMMUNITIES WITH FEWER THAN 100 VOTERS CAN GET PERMISSION TO OPEN THEIR POLLS AT MIDNIGHT –
AND CLOSE THEM AS SOON AS ALL REGISTERED VOTERS HAVE CAST THEIR BALLOTS.
THREE TINY TOWNS WILL SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT WHEN THEIR RESIDENTS CAST THE FIRST BALLOTS IN THE FIRST-IN-THE-NATION PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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