Secretary of State Bill Gardner chooses expected date, and says NH tradition lives on.
NH law requires its primary be held at least a week before any similar election. When Nevada tried to schedule its caucus in mid-January, NH threatened to hold the primary in December. Under pressure from national republicans and facing a boycott from some candidates, Nevada backed off, giving NH’s secretary of state Bill Gardner the window he sought.
"The tradition of NH presidential primary lives on and it will be held on the second Tuesday, the 10th day of next year 2012.
The January 10th date means granite state voters will head to the polls a week after the Iowa caucus and two weeks before the South Carolina primary.