NEW DELHI: The filing period for the presidential primary in New Hampshire has come to a close, marked by intriguing moments and political manoeuvres, reports AP.
Two weeks before his surprising withdrawal from the race, former Vice President Mike Pencemade a dramatic entrance by being the sole candidate to have his own studio lights as he officially entered the yet-to-be-scheduled Republican contest next year.Meanwhile, the staff of former President Donald Trump drew attention by tearing up tape reserved for local journalists and positioning his campaign photographer in the front row.
In contrast, President Joe Biden opted not to participate in the filing process, citing changes made by the Democratic National Committee to the nominating calendar. Instead, he intends to rely on a write-in campaign, an unusual choice for an incumbent president. However, the Democratic ballot still has 21 candidates vying for a spot, including US Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson.
New Hampshire’s penchant for crowded presidential primaries remains unchanged, with 24 candidates on the GOP ballot and 21 on the Democratic ballot. This is typical in the state, known for having one state lawmaker for every 3,400 residents. In 2020, 33 Democrats and 17 Republicans contested the primary, while the all-time high was in 1992 when 61 candidates entered the race.
The straightforward process for getting on the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot involves submitting a Declaration of Candidacy and paying a $1,000 filing fee, resulting in a diverse field. According to Secretary of State David Scanlan, “New Hampshire is a place where anyone with the dream to grow up and be president of the United States can come and try to make that happen.” This inclusiveness has attracted a range of lesser-known candidates, such as Republican Rachel Swift, who presented her platform of legalising marijuana and prostitution, among other issues, and Democrat Terissa Bukovinac, who seeks to promote pro-life Democrats.
The Republican ballot includes former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and the six other candidates who qualified for the most recent debate. Notable names on the ballot include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
New Hampshire’s century-long tradition of hosting the first presidential primary remains secure, owing in large part to a state law granting the secretary of state sole authority to set the date, ensuring it precedes similar contests by at least a week. In 2024, New Hampshire will disregard a new Democratic calendar that has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on February 3, followed by Nevada.
These changes were made at President Joe Biden’s request and aimed to empower Black and minority voters by starting in a more diverse state. However, Secretary of State David Scanlan argues that New Hampshire’s unique characteristics, being neither solidly red nor blue, its small geographical size, small media market, high voter turnout, and engaged citizens, make it deserving of its position as the first primary state.
“Whether it’s the president or the former president or one of the lesser-known candidates, if that person walks down Main Street and wants to engage with a New Hampshire voter, they’re going to be received and treated politely and with respect,” Scanlan emphasized. “That’s the role we play.”
Two weeks before his surprising withdrawal from the race, former Vice President Mike Pencemade a dramatic entrance by being the sole candidate to have his own studio lights as he officially entered the yet-to-be-scheduled Republican contest next year.Meanwhile, the staff of former President Donald Trump drew attention by tearing up tape reserved for local journalists and positioning his campaign photographer in the front row.
In contrast, President Joe Biden opted not to participate in the filing process, citing changes made by the Democratic National Committee to the nominating calendar. Instead, he intends to rely on a write-in campaign, an unusual choice for an incumbent president. However, the Democratic ballot still has 21 candidates vying for a spot, including US Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson.
New Hampshire’s penchant for crowded presidential primaries remains unchanged, with 24 candidates on the GOP ballot and 21 on the Democratic ballot. This is typical in the state, known for having one state lawmaker for every 3,400 residents. In 2020, 33 Democrats and 17 Republicans contested the primary, while the all-time high was in 1992 when 61 candidates entered the race.
The straightforward process for getting on the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot involves submitting a Declaration of Candidacy and paying a $1,000 filing fee, resulting in a diverse field. According to Secretary of State David Scanlan, “New Hampshire is a place where anyone with the dream to grow up and be president of the United States can come and try to make that happen.” This inclusiveness has attracted a range of lesser-known candidates, such as Republican Rachel Swift, who presented her platform of legalising marijuana and prostitution, among other issues, and Democrat Terissa Bukovinac, who seeks to promote pro-life Democrats.
The Republican ballot includes former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, and the six other candidates who qualified for the most recent debate. Notable names on the ballot include North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
New Hampshire’s century-long tradition of hosting the first presidential primary remains secure, owing in large part to a state law granting the secretary of state sole authority to set the date, ensuring it precedes similar contests by at least a week. In 2024, New Hampshire will disregard a new Democratic calendar that has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on February 3, followed by Nevada.
These changes were made at President Joe Biden’s request and aimed to empower Black and minority voters by starting in a more diverse state. However, Secretary of State David Scanlan argues that New Hampshire’s unique characteristics, being neither solidly red nor blue, its small geographical size, small media market, high voter turnout, and engaged citizens, make it deserving of its position as the first primary state.
“Whether it’s the president or the former president or one of the lesser-known candidates, if that person walks down Main Street and wants to engage with a New Hampshire voter, they’re going to be received and treated politely and with respect,” Scanlan emphasized. “That’s the role we play.”