Candidates have never been drawn to New Hampshire by its delegate reward. It is less than 1 percent of each party's national total, which in turn, is divided among candidates to proportionally represent the primary vote. Rather, candidates come to New Hampshire because it has earned a reputation as a giant focus group – ready and willing to evaluate the candidates and recommend one or two in each party to the states that follow.

New Hampshire has jealously guarded its first-in-the-nation presidential primary status, to the point that in 2000 the event will be on Feb. 1, the earliest date in the state's history.

The primary is open to registered members of each party, plus undeclared voters, who automatically become members of the party in which they cast their primary ballot (although they can change back as they leave the polling place). As of September 1998, there were roughly 275,000 registered Republicans in New Hampshire, 200,000 Democrats and 250,000 undeclared.

DEMOCRATS The Delegates: • 29 total delegates • 0.7% of national total • Allocation: Proportional - 15% of vote needed to win a share of statewide or district delegates. The Calendar: • Primary Date: Feb. 1 • Filing Deadline: Nov. 19, 1999 • Filing Procedure: Candidates must pay a $1,000 filing fee to the secretary of state; no petitions are required.

REPUBLICANS The Delegates: • 17 total delegates • 0.8% of national total • Allocation: Proportional - 10% of statewide vote needed to win a share of the delegates. The Calendar: • Primary Date: Feb. 1 • Filing Deadline: Nov. 19, 1999 • Filing Procedure: Candidates must pay a $1,000 filing fee to the secretary of state; no petitions are required

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