Presidential election Singular electorate in New Hampshire

Look at presidential candidates who, over the decades, have seen their ambitions come to naught, succumbing to a demanding electorate.

Even Joe Biden's White House dreams have all but faded after a disastrous fifth-place finish in the 2020 New Hampshire primary. His campaign, perceived as cold and distant, angered the state, which places too much emphasis on the personality of candidates.

On Tuesday, the new presidential candidates, vying for their party's nomination, will face an electorate imbued with a fierce libertarian spirit, adopting the state slogan of “Live Free or Die.”

Old, white, distrustful of government, this rural state of 1.4 million people bears some resemblance to the two conservative states of Ohio or Iowa.

But educated voters, anti-church, have more in common with liberal states like New York, Maine or Vermont.

A former Republican stronghold that has leaned left in recent years, local politics is still one of the few that can help or break the dynamics of candidates.

Over a coffee

The latter do not need to appear on billboards or on radio and TV waves, but rather to chat over coffee in a bar or restaurant.

“Voters do a very good job of choosing candidates in New Hampshire,” said Amanda Wihby of the Red Arrow Restaurant, which has become a popular meeting place for elected officials and voters in Manchester, the nation's largest city. “We take 'First in the Nation' very seriously. »

Although this is the first primary in the United States, New Hampshire follows the Iowa caucuses and is therefore the second state to vote on the presidential nomination.

But New Hampshire frames the rest of the campaign as a more reliable indicator of public opinion than Iowa, and it attracts high-profile Americans.

“Every so often, customers come […] And contestants sit with them, chat and order food. Or they come behind the counter, give them coffee and answer their questions,” explains M^me Wihby to AFP.

“They're really having a good time. The customers are very appreciative. I don't think they'll lose sight of the fact that our customers are at the forefront of democracy right here in the restaurant itself. »

Red Arrow has hosted most of this year's nominees, including Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. The stakes in the Republican primary that see them face off against each other are higher than those of the Democrats, with Joe Biden running for re-election.

The incumbent president will not be on the ballot this time, however, as Democrats seek to reform the primary calendar to focus on more states.

“without equal”

Independent voters have taken over in New Hampshire. They represent a much larger share of the electorate than registered Republicans or Democrats.

Here they can vote in any primary, prompting both parties to campaign hard for their support.

“It's fun to meet the candidates, think about the issues and hear what other people have to say,” said Jill Tidbener, a customer who comes to Red Arrow to talk politics. “It's good to hear what your friends and family think, it's a way to start a conversation.” »

The tradition of New Hampshire primaries begins in Dixville Notch Township, 30 kilometers from the Canadian border, where the first votes are cast at midnight.

A symbol of the state's commitment to civic participation, its 400-member House of Representatives is the third largest elected legislative body in the English-speaking world, after the United States House of Representatives and the House of Representatives. British Commons.

“I went to school in New Hampshire as a kid and worked on political campaigns,” said Jim Hercek, 70, a retired businessman who moved from New York to Manchester with friends to volunteer on Donald Trump's campaign. “They are always unique. These are always unique events. »