Changes

The New Hampshire presidential primary for the 2016 cycle will be held on February 9, 2016.

The New Hampshire presidential primary for the 2016 cycle will be held on February 9, 2016.  When New Hampshire was more conservative and when the Northeast had more credibility in the South, this primary outcome nearly decided who the Republican Party nominee would be, as in 1980 when [[Ronald Reagan]] won this primary and then the nomination.  But by 2000, [[George W. Bush]] lost this primary and yet still won the nomination.

Republican primary voters are not as socially [[conservative]] in New Hampshire as in the Midwest and the South, but New Hampshire is losing the enormous significance it once had.  It does has a maverick streak, liking to reject a front-runner candidate in order to deliver an upset winner.  [[John McCain]] won New Hampshire primary in both 2000 and 2008, reflecting the anti-tax, pro-veteran, independent leanings of the primary voters.

Republican primary voters are not as socially [[conservative]] in New Hampshire as in the Midwest and the South, and New Hampshire has lost the enormous significance it once had in the Republican presidential nomination process.  It does has a maverick streak, liking to reject a front-runner candidate in order to deliver an upset winner.  [[John McCain]] won New Hampshire primary in both 2000 and 2008, reflecting the anti-tax, pro-veteran, independent leanings of the primary voters.

Independents are allowed to vote in the Republican primary, which can yield a more moderate result than if it were Republicans only.

Independents are allowed to vote in the Republican primary, which can yield a more moderate result than if it were Republicans only.