| Show NH fights to keep influential primary status John M. M Glionna Los Ange Angeles les Times The old adage about never letting em em see you sweat is something that Kriss takes quite literally The veteran makeup artist has the faces of numerous presidential candidates from Pat Buchanan and Rudolph W. W Giuliani to Al AI AlGore AlGore Gore and Hillary Clinton Now business is booming after her recent makeover of Clinton for a televised debate here is even marketing a new lipstick known as you guessed it Debate Its It's the height of the presidential primary season and the benefits are trickling down into virtually every corner of this sized pint-sized state Every four years little New Hampshire gets ge gets s ta a giant say who will be bethe bethe bethe the next occupant of the White House and Wand most of the states state's 13 million occupants pants love basking in inthe inthe inthe the national glow Its not just about money said noting the primary gives folks in New Hampshire a sense of who we are Since 1920 New Hampshire has staked its turf as a White House proving ground with its unique form of one-on-one one retail politics So seriously does it take its role the state legislature in 1975 passed a law mandating that the Granite State host the first presidential primary vote This year however several states have tried to loosen New Hampshire's headlock on the primary schedule Michigan has acted to move its primary a week ahead of New Hampshire's but the final voting days remain very much in flux Why many ask should a state with barely 13 million residents and little ethnic diversity wield so much influence Weve given New Hampshire the best seat in the house They've been a national proxy for many years said Donna Brazille a veteran Democratic strategist She says the time has come to move the first primary But New Hampshire is fighting not switching and vows to stay in the pole position no matter what other states do This is a place where the little guy has the say said Secretary of State Bill Gardner who for decades has decided when to schedule the state primary Politicking here is like a step back in time an old white black-and-white photograph compared to the colorful frame grabs that follow in most other states Candidates such as Jimmy Carter J Jack ck Kemp and Bob Kerrey played checkers with a general store owner and Gary Hart threw an ax at a woodsman convention New Hampshire brings campaigning to a human scale said Hart who ran for president in 1984 Voters there know their politics They've opened doors for dark- dark horse candidates that's the beauty of the state I Former Massachusetts Gov Michael Dukakis the Democratic nominee for president in 1988 also relished New Hampshire's retail politics Youre in ina a lot of living rooms and back yards he said I enjoyed that a hell of a alot alot alot lot more than the post- post nomination up drill and down on planes giving airport speeches New Hampshire's tradition of micro- micro democracy dates back to the when town hall meetings originated in New England Today the state holds elections at atthe atthe atthe the town and school district levels every year with races for statewide offices including governor every two years |
