SNEAK PEEK: NH Primary in December?
NH Secretary of State Continues to Ponder Primary Date
October 17, 2007— -- Now that Iowa Republicans have announced their caucus date, the third day of next year, the big looming question mark is the date of the New Hampshire primary. And the man of the hour, the week, the month, the fall is Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
Thursday afternoon at the University of New Hampshire, Gardner delivers remarks on a subject near and dear to him, "A Barometer of the Nation's Democracy: New Hampshire's Unique Role In American Political Culture." LINK
Gardner literally wrote the book on the state's primary and its significance in presidential electoral politics, so political junkies can expect the lecture to be detailed and informative. LINK
Just don't get your hopes up that you will hear an announcement of the primary date.
Gardner is in no rush to make a decision and lately has been giving off stronger signals that a December primary is a possibility, pointing out that state law requires him to set a primary date "each year when a president of the United States is to be elected or the year previous."
At this point, the only thing that he is certain about is that New Hampshire will go no later than Jan. 8 and he will adhere to state law requiring the state primary to be seven days or more ahead of any other primary or caucus (excluding Iowa).
Gardner is serving his 16th consecutive two-year term and this election marks the eighth time he has set a primary date – and he points out that he has never changed it once it was set.
On the campaign trail. . .
RUDY GIULIANI
-- 10:45 am ET: Meets voters, Minneapolis, MN
-- 5:00 pm ET: Speaks at a forum at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL
-- Attends an evening fundraiser, Milwaukee, WI (unconfirmed)
MITT ROMNEY
-- 8:00 am ET: Hosts an "Ask Mitt Anything" event, Pawley's Island, SC
-- 11:30 am ET: Attends a luncheon meet and greet, Florence, SC
-- 3:00 pm ET: Visits Gibbs Regional Cancer Center and holds media availability, Spartanburg, SC
-- 6:00 pm ET: Hosts an "Ask Mitt Anything" and BBQ, Fort Mills, SC
ANN ROMNEY
-- 12:00 pm ET: Speaks at a luncheon, Charleston, SC
-- 7:00 pm ET: Speaks to East Cooper GOP women, Mount Pleasant, SC
FRED THOMPSON
-- 11:30 am ET: Receives Cobb County endorsement, Cobb County, GA
-- Attends a fundraising luncheon, Atlanta, GA
-- Attends an evening fundraiser, Powder Springs, GA
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 8:45 am ET: Visit and speaks at USC Upstate Nursing School, Spartansburg, SC
-- 12:15 pm ET: Holds a town hall meeting, Greenville, SC
MIKE HUCKABEE
-- 7:30 am ET: Speaks to the Jaffrey Rindge Rotary, Rindge, NH
-- 9:00 am ET: Speaks at Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, NH
-- 11:00 am ET: Makes a campaign stop, Peterborough, NH
-- 4:00 pm ET: Files candidacy papers, Concord, NH
-- 4:45 pm ET: Attends a reception at his state campaign headquarters, Concord, NH
-- 6:45 pm ET: Attends a fundraiser, Amherst, NH
DUNCAN HUNTER
-- 1:30 pm ET: Holds a news conference with other representatives to address concerns about using Chinese steel to build a Mexican border fence, Washington, DC
ALAN KEYES
-- Speaks at the Avenues Pregnancy Clinic, Glendale, CA
As for the Democrats. . .
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 2:00 pm ET: Participates in a health care forum sponsored by Families USA and the Federation of American Hospitals, Washington, DC
BARACK OBAMA
-- 2:00 pm ET: Holds a town hall meeting, Reno, NV
-- 9:30 pm ET: Attends a community event, Las Vegas, NV
JOHN EDWARDS
-- Tapes "The Ellen Degeneres Show," Los Angeles, CA
BILL RICHARDSON
-- 1:00 pm ET: Delivers a "major speech" about global threats of the 21st century, Des Moines, IA
-- 6:00 pm ET: Has a conversation on Iraq, Nevada, IA
-- 8:15 pm ET: Has a conversation on Iraq, Des Moines, IA
JOE BIDEN
-- 9:00 am ET: Has coffee with O'Brien County Democrats, Sheldon, IA
-- 11:30 am ET: Meets with Cherokee County Democrats, Cherokee, IA
-- 1:30 pm ET: Visits the Buena Vista County Democrats, Storm Lake, IA
-- 5:00 pm ET: Meets and greets Pocahantos County Democrats, Laurens, IA
-- 7:30 pm ET: Meets Calhoun County Democrats, Lohrville, IA
DENNIS KUCINICH
-- 9:00 am ET: Talks with Internet users live on the Washington Post's website
On Capitol Hill. . .
-- 10:00 am ET: Congresswoman-elect Niki Tsongas is sworn in (and then plans vote to override S-CHIP veto), Washington, DC
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 10:00 am ET: Meets with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the Oval Office
LAURA BUSH
-- 7:35 pm ET: Speaks at gala for the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the National Portrait Gallery
-- 8:30 pm ET: Speaks at a dinner for Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Teddy Davis and Mike Chesney report: "Giuliani Retreats from Reagan Flexibility" LINK
ABC News' Jennifer Parker and Nitya Venkataraman: "Candidates' Dollars and Cents" LINK
ABC News' Jonathan Karl: "Rice Visits Bethlehem, Witnesses Conflict's Toll" LINK
ABC News' David Chalian: " Calendar Craziness: IA GOP and SC Dems. Set Primary" LINK
ABC News' Jason Ryan, Theresa Cook and Ariane deVogue: "AG Confirmation Revisits Gonzales Era" LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COMBush Honors Dalai Lama Despite China's DisapprovalBush and Congress present the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal. LINK
Giuliani Retreats from Reagan Flexibility '08 Republican rules out tax increase to fix social security. LINK
Why Should Women Choose Obama?Sen. Obama responds to an Iowa questioner on why he's the best candidate. LINK
Obama Laughs Off Phone CallsSen. Obama plays off audience laughter during a campaign appearance in Vinton, Iowa. LINK
Bush Defends Visit With 'Man of Peace'President Bush dismisses China's criticism of his meeting with the Dalai Lama. LINK
Steven Colbert for President?The host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" says he will run for president. LINK
Bush Presses Congress on Spending BillsPresident Bush holds a press conference to address significant domestic issues. LINK
Bush: Iran Wants to Make a NukeBush says he'll continue to rally the world to take care of this "threat." LINK
Senator Larry Craig SpeaksHow much of a liability is Sen. Craig to the Republican Party? LINK