Facts on the New Hampshire Primary
A U.S. Presidential primary is the process by which the Republican and Democratic parties decide their nominees for the presidency. The process is similar to a regular election.

The New Hampshire Primary is traditionally the first of several statewide U.S. political party primary elections that take place every four years. The New Hampshire Primary and the Iowa Caucus are believed to greatly influence or predict selection of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidate front-runners.

The primary has been a major testing ground for those seeking the Republican and Democratic nominations since 1952. Candidates who do poorly in the New Hampshire Primary often drop out. There have been instances where lesser-known, under-funded candidates do well and become major contenders.

The New Hampshire Primary generally takes place in January prior to the November presidential election, traditionally marking the opening of the quadrennial election season, although that first-in-the-nation status is continually threatened by states seeking to move their primaries earlier.

A state law passed in 1977 mandates that the New Hampshire be the first in the nation. As a result, the state has moved its primary from March to earlier in the year. By 2004, it was scheduled for Jan. 27. The 2008 New Hampshire Primary is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 22.

During the primary/caucus season, the media generally gives more attention to the New Hampshire Primary and Iowa Caucus than all other states combined.

Source: Palmer, Niall A. (1997). The New Hampshire Primary and the American Electoral Process. Westport, Conn.: Praeger, ISBN 0-275-95569-9

Facts on the Iowa Caucus System
The Iowa Caucus is commonly recognized as the first step in the U.S. Presidential nomination process for the Democratic and Republican parties. It came to national attention in 1972 through a series of articles in the New York Times.

The caucus system is unique and different from the traditional primary system employed in states like New Hampshire. The caucus is considered a gathering of neighbors. Community members gather at local schools, churches and other meeting places to support their favorite candidate. The format of the event depends on which political party is running the caucus.

Democratic Process
A Democratic Caucus employs a simple process. Caucus-goers divide into “preference groups” and make their candidate preferences public. For roughly 30 minutes, attendees try to convince their neighbors to support their candidates. Participants indicate their support for a particular candidate by standing in a designated area of the caucus site.

Republican Process
Likewise, a Republican Caucus employs a different, similarly simple process. Each participant casts a ballot (usually either by paper or a show of hands) for his or her favorite candidate. The votes are then tallied and the candidate with the highest number of votes is considered the winner.

The Next Step
Delegates are chosen by each precinct and advance to the county convention—the second stage of the caucus process. County conventions usually take place one month after the initial caucus. Delegates then move on to the district and finally the state conventions.

Source: The Des Moines Register