The New Hampshire Primary and the American Electoral Process [Hardcover]

Niall Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0275955699 | ISBN-13: 978-0275955694

This study examines the peculiar role and history of the New Hampshire primary in American presidential politics, through the 1996 election season. The work reviews the primary's history, analyzes the media's treatment of New Hampshire results, and provides a study of the phenomenon of momentum, and the role played by local media such as the infamous Manchester ^IUnion Leader^R. There is also an examination of the strained relationship between New Hampshire's state parties and their national equivalents and of the efforts of Congress to reform the entire electoral system, with the express purpose of reducing New Hampshire's supposed power in determining nomination outcomes. Finally, the analysis addresses questions of the Granite State's suitability as a benchmark for testing and judging candidates. Is this tiny New England state the last haven for genuine interpersonal campaigning or a relic from a bygone political era which now distorts and oversimplifies candidate choice? And does the New Hampshire primary's increasing unpopularity with journalists and candidates reflect deeper changes in the nation's psyche? This book will be of interest to scholars and students of the American political process and 20th-century American history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?Palmer's book offers the first significant look at its subject since the publication of Charles Brereton's First in the Nation: New Hampshire and the Premiere Presidential Primary in 1987 and Dayton Duncan's Grass Roots: One Year in the Life of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary in 1991. Neither of these works, however, approaches Palmer's depth of analysis or breadth of contextualization....Palmer has written a well argued and highly readable book that will be of great interest to scholars of the American political scene and especially to anyone who has participated in a New Hampshire primary campaign.?-The New England Quarterly

Book Description

This study examines the peculiar role and history of the New Hampshire primary in American presidential politics, through the 1996 election season. The work reviews the primary's history, analyzes the media's treatment of New Hampshire's results, discusses clashes between state and national Democratic parties, and provides a study of the phenomenon of momentum, and the role played by local media such as the infamous Manchester Union Leader.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 216 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (September 16, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275955699
• ISBN-13: 978-0275955694
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,468,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, March 21, 2003

By 

Sam Springer (Eliot, ME) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Hampshire Primary and the American Electoral Process (Hardcover)

Very interesting look at the the makeup of the New Hampshire primary and interesting facts and history.