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Has NH lost its influence?

May 21, 2007 6:22 AM

WCAX-TV
May 21, 2007

John Edwards was in familiar territory Monday night, on the campaign trail in the Granite State.

The Democrat is making a second bid for the White House. He looked for support in Lebanon, N.H., with some 300 people crowding a town meeting in Colburn Park. Edwards outlined his plans for health care, education, combating climate change and restoring respect for America worldwide.

"The world thinks we're a bully," Edwards said. "They think we're at war with the Muslim world. That we're selfish and don't care about anything except ourselves. That has to change. It's the responsibility of the president to bring about that change."

Listening to presidential stump speeches has long been a spectator sport in this first-in-the-nation primary state. But could that change?

For years, early season voters in New Hampshire and Iowa have been vetting candidates with eyes on the Oval Office.

But in 2008... 16 states will vote on February 5th-- right on the heels of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, which vote in late January.

"Front-loading makes New Hampshire and Iowa more important, not less," Edwards said, because the nation-- and the national media-- will be focusing on who wins the early states.

"I think if you don't do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, it doesn't matter who you are, you're going to be in trouble," Edwards said.

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, who now chairs the Democratic National Committee, agreed.

"The first four states are going to have an enormous influence," Dean said. "You have to win in one of the first four states or you're really not going to be able to go on. All these states that are piling onto the 5th of February are going to be important, of course, because some of them are very big states. But the battle is going to be fought out in the early four."

Voters in New Hampshire said the system has worked in the past and it will work in the future.

"We pay attention to the issues," said Bert Leonard, an independent voter from Lebanon, N.H. "We're the old New Englanders that really pay attention to what's going on. And I think we pretty much do set the course in the presidential elections and I hope we're able to continue to do so."

 

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Q&A: Educational Disparity
John Edwards answers a question about educational disparity at Hanover Middle School in Hanover, N.H. on September 27, 2007

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