Stormy Weather : The New Hampshire Primary and Presidential Politics

In the coming presidential primaries, no state is as important in setting the stage - or affecting the odds - as New Hampshire. This small, mountainous, proudly distinctive state holds the first primary and the results, both real and in comparison to expectations, can greatly influence the competition for the highest office in the land. Candidates who do well can create momentum and gain support, while those who do worse than expected can be counted out. Scala explains the distinctiveness of New Hampshire politics and how the candidates create strategies to appeal to the state's voters. New Hampshire's sympathy for reformist candidates has the paradoxical affect of jumpstarting the campaigns of those candidates least representative of Democratic voters nationally. The implications for Democratic chances to win the presidency in 2004 are discussed. New Hampshire: First In The Presidential Primaries, It Sets The Stage And Affects Candidates' Odds Of Success Or Failure. Every Four Years, This Small, Proudly Distinctive State Is The Center Of America's Political Universe. Candidates' Performances, Especially Compared To Expectations, Greatly Influence The Competition For The Country's Highest Office. Scala Explains The Importance And Peculiarities Of New Hampshire, Providing Both Historical Context And Insights Into The Tensions Between Local Politics And Candidates' National Agendas. New Hampshire's Sympathy For Reformist Candidates Has The Paradoxical Effect Of Jumpstarting The Campaigns Of Those Candidates Least Representative Of Voters Nationally With Tremendous Implications For Presidential Politics. Scala Explains What It Takes For Candidates To Make The Granite State A Launching Pad Rather Than A Crash Landing.--jacket. Chapter 1: New Hampshire And The Presidency -- Chapter 2: Weather Patterns -- Chapter 3: Storms From The Left: Gene Mccarthy And George Mcgovern -- Chapter 4: Strom From The Right: The Rise Of Jimmy Carter -- Chapter 5: The Center Holds: 1984-1992 -- Chapter 6: The Storm Last Time -- Chapter 7: Stormwatchers: The Primary And The Media -- Chapter 8: New Hampshire As A Barometer Of Residential Primary Success. Dante J. Scala. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [203]-214) And Index. New Hampshire: First in the presidential primaries, it sets the stage and affects candidates' odds of success or failure. Every four years, this small, proudly distinctive state is the center of America's political universe. Candidates' performances, especially in comparison to expectations, influence the competition for the country's highest office. Scala explains the importance and peculiarities of New Hampshire, providing both historical context and insights, based on extensive interviews, into the tensions between local politics and the national agendas of candidates. New Hampshire's sympathy for reformist candidates has the paradoxical effect of jumpstarting the campaigns of those candidates least representative of voters nationally, and Scala explores the tremendous implications for presidential politics. Scala explains what it takes for candidates to make the Granite State a launching pad rather than a crash landing Front Matter....Pages i-vi New Hampshire and the Presidency....Pages 1-33 Weather Patterns....Pages 35-72 Storms from the Left: Gene McCarthy and George McGovern....Pages 73-85 Storm from the Right: The Rise of Jimmy Carter....Pages 87-98 The Center Holds: 1984 to 1992....Pages 99-133 The Storm Last Time....Pages 135-165 Stormwatchers: The Primary and the Media....Pages 167-192 New Hampshire as a Barometer of Presidential Primary Success....Pages 193-202 Back Matter....Pages 203-218 In the coming presidential primaries, no state is as important in setting the stage or affecting the odds than New Hampshire. This book explains the distinctiveness of New Hampshire politics and how the candidates create strategies to appeal to the state's voters In January 1999, one year before Democratic voters began choosing their party's nominee for the highest office in the land, the long-range forecast for Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign was clear, sunny skies.