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Final results: Summary results | Town resultsThe BasicsThe New Hampshire primary is a mainstay in American electoral politics. Every four years, voters gather to help determine the Republican and/or Democratic nominee for President. While the state only has 12 electoral votes in 2012 (normally it’s 24, but the Republican National Committee penalized the state party for moving up the event date), the primary’s position as one of the earliest contests gives the state out-sized influence over the nomination process.Only the Iowa caucuses come before New Hampshire’s primary. Traditionally, New Hampshire’s broad-based primary contest has been seen as a counter-weight to Iowa’s more drawn-out caucus process, which tends to draw a smaller core of party faithful. In the case of the 2012 Republican race, New Hampshire’s electorate is seen to represent the more libertarian-leaning, fiscally conservative wing of the party, while Iowa voters are seen as representing the socially conservative wing of the GOP base.N.H. Primary summary provided by StateImpact - NH reporter, Amanda Loder

Bachmann Staffers Call It Quits

Erik Eisele

Minnesota Congresswoman's local campaign workers resign en masse. NHPR's Josh Rogers reports.

Michele Bachmann announced her presidential run at a debate here in June. And during each of her 4 trips to NH, Bachmann's been quick to insist she is a natural fit for the state.

"NH is all about low taxes and liberty and that’s what I’m about, so we are perfect match. We are a marriage made in heaven."

But apparently Bachmann’s paid NH staffers don’t see it that way. As first reported by TV station WMUR, some half-dozen campaign workers quit en masse, because Bachmann hasn’t spent much time in the granite state. Neither the former staffers, nor Bachmann’s campaign returned calls for this story. But Political scientist Dean Spiliotes of Southern NH University says the exodus just adds to Bachmann’s steep local challenges.

"The reality is her ability to compete in this state, given her ideological positioning has always been in question."

 Bachmann confirmed last week what her campaign schedule already made clear – she was focusing her efforts on the Iowa caucuses, where socially conservative voters play a key role. Fiscal issues tend to play a larger role in NH. University of NH pollster Andy Smith says Bachmann’s probably better off concentrating on Iowa, given her downward trajectory in the polls here.

"Bachmann now is the least popular among the republican candidates in NH, at a minus 18 net favorability rating."

NH has traditionally been the last best hope for the long shot candidate. But this year it seems unlikely to play that role for Michele Bachmann.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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