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N.H. May Change Presidential Primary Date
"People in other states say, 'We can replicate what you do.' What they can't replicate is the unique political culture here," Gardner said.
The state also helped to democratize presidential elections by proposing that states send delegates to choose candidates at the fledgling Democratic Party's 1832 convention _ the origin of the modern nominating convention. Previously, the candidates were chosen by congressmen in Washington.
  Libertarian Ken Blevens reaches for a numbered ice cream stick from New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner as state Democratic Party chairwoman Kathy Sullivan, left, and Republican Andrew Leach, second from right, wait their turn at the Statehouse in Concord, in this Sept. 8, 2006, file photo. Gardner planned to use the results to rotate the parties' position on the Nov. 7, ballot in response to a court ruling. In 31 years as New Hampshire's secretary of state Gardner has registered hundreds of people who want to run for president and made sure his state's was the Nation's earliest presidential primary; now he's poised to do it again in 2008. (AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Jim Cole - AP) 
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A century ago, when reformers pushed to have voters instead of party bosses choose nominees, New Hampshire was one of the first states to hold primary elections. Since 1920, it has held the earliest state presidential primary, even as other states handed the job back to the parties.
The primary also is open to anyone, Gardner said, in contrast to caucus states, where the parties decide who can run.
The state has same-day voter registration, and independents _ 42 percent of the electorate, at last count _ can vote in either primary.
That promotes high turnout: In a state of about 1.3 million people, 80 percent of 855,723 registered voters cast ballots in 2004.
"We're fighting privilege," Gardner said. "That's the theme here, that there's a place left in the country that is open and inclusive. Anyone can get on the ballot, even if you're indigent."
To Gardner, history is destiny, or should be. Not surprisingly, others disagree. Last year, Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan led the Democratic Party's effort to schedule early nominating contests in states with more racial and ethnic diversity than Iowa and New Hampshire. He was only partly successful, in part because of Gardner's unique authority.
"New Hampshire seems to think they have a God-given right to have the lion's share of attention from the presidential candidates," Levin complained last summer.
Gardner and others say the result has been greater front-loading of the nominating calendar for 2008 than ever before.
"If we end up with a one-day national primary or series of events ... it's going to all be a matter of fundraising, and it's only going to be those people with money to give who will go to the fundraisers," he warns.
For that reason, Splaine hopes Gardner will move New Hampshire ahead of Nevada. But whatever he does, "In Gardner we trust," Splaine said.
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On the Net:
N.H. Political Library: http:/
N.H. law on primary date: http:/
