A better question would be, "Why not?" 

Over the years, up here in the Granite State the people have served the country well when it comes to electing Presidents.  Since 1952, with the exception of Bill Clinton (an unfortunate one in our opinion), no man has won the Presidency without first winning the New Hampshire Primary. 

That's no accident.  Granite Staters are tough but fair with those who would be President.  Toward the end of the race, when the temperature gets colder and the campaigning gets hotter, it takes dedication to survive.  Here is democracy at its best, for it takes more than a big bankroll or name recognition to impress us. 

New Hampshire folks demand that a would-be President address their concerns and answer their questions face to face.  Every service club, every school auditorium, every pancake breakfast and afternoon tea party must be covered. 

New Hampshire may be small in size, but we are large in diversity.  We have large businesses and small high-tech firms as well as high-bush blueberries.  We have high school dropouts and college graduates, city living and country solitude.  Our balance among the rich, the middle class and the poor, between the children, the middle-aged and the elderly is much the same as it is in the rest of the country. 

If a pollster can measure the wishes of our country's citizens by 1,000 off-the-top-of-their-head responses to telephone calls, how much better to start the direct selection of the next President with the responses of voters who have seriously studies the candidates and their qualifications? 

Yes, New Hampshire deserves to have the first primary.  Even more important, the nation deserves to have New Hampshire lead the way. 

Nackey Loeb