Preserving the First in The Nation Status

Khalil: I think we all benefitted from the break out sessions that spoke about the First of the Nation Primaries in New Hampshire (both in the past and present). The sessions shined light on the significance of the period we are presently in, being that the primaries are coming in a month, and the candidates are here in New Hampshire. The candidates also all understand the importance of this crucial period, and the impact these primaries are going to have on all the upcoming primaries. Listening to what the panels had to say about the evolution of the primaries also gave me a better idea of why these primaries have stayed here in New Hampshire, and haven’t gone anywhere else.

Ray Buckey, New Hampshire Democratic party chair, along with Wayne Mc Donald, former New Hampshire GOP chair and Sarah Crawford Stewart, Sarah helped on John Mccain’s campaign in New Hampshire. The panel was mainly about their long lived experience campaigning in new hampshire. Ray has been involved with the democratic party campaigning process since 1976 when he campaigned for jimmy carter, he’s been part of every campaign since. Sarah has experience from campaigning with John Mccain from the Republican party and Wayne has also worked with more than one Republican party campaign. All three spoke fondly about their experience here in New Hampshire and believe the primaries should stay in New Hampshire. They believe It’s an evenly split state(politically). From their experience so far with many different candidates and the New Hampshire locals, they believe the challenge New Hampshire offers the candidates is a challenge candidates aren’t exposed to much, in other states. The retail politics that candidates are forced to engage in here, gaining New Hampshire votes, they believe isn’t offered in other states. The state, they believe also offers political diversity. Diversity, both in party affiliation and in ideology. The state has fairly liberal republicans with an increasing conservative population, and a fairly Democratic population with an increasing liberal population, in within the Democratic party. From experience, they say they are never able to predict who is actually going to win the primaries, all campaigns put in hard work to sway New Hampshire voters till the last night before the polls open.

A'Jee: I attended a few different breakout sessions. The main event for today was: preserving the First in the Nation status. This was an event that my class was thoroughly prepared for. In particular I wanted the status to be taken from New Hampshire. We were introduced to a surrogate for

Gardner, New Hampshire Secretary of state and Jim Splaine, Deputy Mayor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The moderator posed the question: “Who thinks New Hampshire shouldn’t be first”. I quickly raised my hand.

I wondered why it was so important that this state be first at bat and for 100 years. Why not let other states take a turn. Or allow a state that resembles the country better to do it. The surrogate humbly read out the law for allowing NH to keep an earned “tradition” despite any other state want to go ahead. The law gives a one-week buffer from the date NH conducts their primaries before any other state can. Iowa holds a caucus, therefore able to ignore the rule. But states that tried to go around this 40-year-old law would run into problems. New Hampshire pays for their own primary and is easily accessible for any candidates to enter. With 1,000 dollars or ten signatures from every district in the state their name is on the ballot. Also allowing everyone a chance to vote. Registered Democrats and Republicans choose along party lines but independents are given the freedom to select a candidate from either party in this semi-open process. And the custom that New Hampshire has embodied gives the state the competitive edge.

While other states my try to threat the First in The Nation status, the fact remains that this state is always prepared. The surrogate reminded the crowd that it usually takes six or so weeks to put on a primary. But since New Hampshire is ready every four years early in the year, its effortless to do it in a hurry. They explained to us that the precedents set is deeply rooted in the community and is respected by candidates that come through the primary system. Although George W. Bush didn’t in 2000 against John McCain he was able to take what he learned from his experience and take South Carolina, as told by Jim.

I could see that these men were passionate and undoubtedly sure that the New Hampshire should remain first in the nation. Yet I couldn’t help but to poke the bee’s nest. As they were speaking I jotted down contradictions to their reasons to hold the status.

The day prior, I asked why would a state with such little diversity be allowed to set the stage for the entire country. News outlets, economy boost and high traffic every four years to the same cold place. I was told that a diversity of ideas is still diversity, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear. So asking for a refreshed answer from someone else, I laid out why this little state shouldn’t be given this privileged cycle after cycle. Amongst the issues of social media virtually eliminating the need to come to the state, old representation, and suppressing voter turnout in later primaries. We came to a resolution that could solve this problem. A rotating schedule of who goes first. Even though the panelist agreed that would be nice, they didn’t seem moved to change their status at all. But then again why should they? They do have the means to get this done every election.

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