April 22, 1999
By
Anne West
CyberCaucus 2000 News Service
Drake University
Iowa is not the only state in the union that has a "first-in-the-nation" status when it comes to the presidential nominating process. New Hampshire holds the first presidential primary. The primary election has played a key role in picking the two candidates who will "race" for the right to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
New Hampshire has held this primary status since 1920 (present ballot voting since 1952). For 50 years New Hampshire would "pick the president," meaning one of the candidates who was selected by the New Hampshire primaries ultimately would be elected president. This ended in 1992 when the Democratic party nominated Sen. Paul Tsongas, but he was beaten out by the former governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton. New Hampshire also boasts that it has the highest voter turnout in the nation when it comes to primaries.
The first primary is often a precursor for what is to come. Because Iowa and New Hampshire play such an important role in the presidential elections, by having the first caucus and first primary, they become hot spots for presidential hopefuls. In these two states every four years, candidates are eager to shake your hand and kiss your baby in an attempt to win over the local vote.
GOP candidates Lamar Alexander and Steve Forbes already have offices in both states, and candidates from Ohio Rep. John Kasich to Elizabeth Dole are making Iowa and New Hampshire their most frequent travel stops. The same goes for Democrats, with Al Gore first announcing his bid in the two states and with visits since.
In recent years, some states have tried to challenge Iowa's and New Hampshire's status by holding their primaries or caucuses earlier. Most recently, Louisiana tried to change its caucus date for the 2000 elections.
Iowa and New Hampshire do not take this first-in-the-nation honor lightly and have taken steps jointly to protect their status. The governors of New Hampshire and Iowa earlier formed a commission seeking to preserve the status of their primary and caucus. The commission is the first formal, bipartisan effort of the two states to preserve their status.
In a press release from the office of Gov. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, she said, "For decades, the people of New Hampshire and Iowa have played a special role in choosing American presidents. By hosting the nation's first presidential primary and party caucuses, we have provided forums for candidates to meet people , discuss the issues and develop their platforms."
Gov. Terry Branstad, while still in office in Iowa, explained why the two states need to work together, "By working together on a bipartisan basis, our two states can accomplish more than by working separately," he said. "To that end, we will be working with the political parties, other states, and the presidential candidates to ensure that Iowa and New Hampshire remain first. The purpose of the commission is also to determine what other steps we can take together in this endeavor."
To find out more about the New Hampshire primary and its history, visit The Library of Archives of New Hampshire's Political History.