The 2012 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary took place on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the primary.

Background and campaign In the 2008 Republican nomination contest, Mitt Romney's campaign invested heavily in the New Hampshire, but ultimately came up short to eventual nominee John McCain.

In 2012, Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum were heavily contesting and campaigning in the New Hampshire primary.

Though Santorum ultimately won the Iowa Caucus on January 3, it was believed at the time that Romney had won by 8 votes.

Televised debates in New Hampshire were held on January 7, 2012, on ABC News at Saint Anselm College and the following morning on January 8, 2012, on NBC's Meet the Press and MSNBC. All major Republican candidates attended both debates.

Ballot In 2012, a record 33 Republican candidates filed to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire, including various single-issue activists, protest candidates, and perennial candidates. For instance, Stewart Greenleaf, who had no interest in becoming president, registered for the ballot to promote the issue of government spending in the Republican Party. Under New Hampshire's lenient ballot access laws, a candidate is only required to pay $1,000 to the state's treasury, and needs no party approval or petitions for placement.

Endorsements Newspapers Various newspapers that circulate widely in New Hampshire made endorsements ahead of the New Hampshire primary.Paul Briand, "Rundown of NH newspaper endorsements in GOP presidential race" (January 6, 2012). Examiner.com. While the conservative Union Leader, the only statewide newspaper, endorsed Gingrich, various newspapers endorsed Huntsman, with the Valley News stating that Huntsman was "a candidate whose views are solidly conservative, but not myopically so" and criticizing Romney and Gingrich, stating that "The former has raised the flip-flop to an art form, while the latter has done the same for hypocrisy" and endorsing Huntsman "in the hopes that the cooler heads will prevail in New Hampshire and elsewhere." Romney also received support, including from The Portsmouth Herald of the Seacoast Region.Ros Krasny, "Huntsman gets New Hampshire newspaper endorsements" (December 18, 2011). Reuters.

The New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed Gingrich on November 27.Joseph W. McQuaid. "An Editorial: For President, Newt Gingrich " (November 27, 2011). New Hampshire Union Leader. Foster's Daily Democrat endorsed Romney on December 4."Mitt Romney: Best suited to be the GOP's standard-bearer " (December 4, 2011). Foster's Daily Democrat. The Portsmouth Herald and Seacoast Media Group endorsed Romney on December 18."Economic smarts make Romney best of GOP field " (December 18, 2011). Portsmouth Herald. The Keene Sentinel endorsed Huntsman on December 18."Jon Huntsman" (December 18, 2011). Keene Sentinel. The Valley News endorsed Huntsman on December 18."Jon Huntsman: The Better Choice " (December 18, 2011). Valley News. The Conway Daily Sun endorsed Romney on December 21."Editorial: Romney to Win" (December 21, 2011). Conway Daily Sun. The Concord Monitor endorsed Huntsman on December 22."Huntsman is the best choice for GOP " (December 22, 2011). Concord Monitor. The Boston Herald endorsed Romney."Endorsement: Nation needs Romney" (December 28, 2011). Boston Herald. The Salmon Press Newspapers group (the Littleton Courier, Berlin Reporter, and Coos County Democrat) endorsed Paul on January 4.Kenneth Rapoza, "Three NH Newspapers Endorse Ron Paul" (January 4, 2012). Forbes. The Nashua Telegraph endorsed Romney on January 5."Romney our choice for GOP nomination" (December 5, 2011). Nashua Telegraph. The Boston Globe endorsed Huntsman on January 6."For vision and national unity, Huntsman for GOP nominee " (January 6, 2012). Boston Globe. The Eagle-Tribune endorsed Romney on January 6."Editorial: Romney is best choice in New Hampshire" (January 6, 2011). Eagle-Tribune.

State politicians Romney led the field in endorsements from New Hampshire Republican elected officials.Nicholas Confessore, "For Romney, Friends in High Places Help Get Out the N.H. Vote" (January 9, 2012), New York Times. The New York Times reported that after losing New Hampshire in the 2008 primary to John McCain, Romney devoted considerable time and money to gain the support of New Hampshire Republican figures. Romney's political action committee (PAC) "spread thousands of dollars" to New Hampshire Republican campaigns, including that of youthful Republican state Representative D.J. Bettencourt of the Republican-heavy Salem area, elected state House majority leader in 2011, who is one of Romney's most active supporters. Romney's PAC also donated $25,000 to the New Hampshire Republican State Committee under the chairmanship of prominent New Hampshire party player John H. Sununu, a former governor and White House Chief of Staff. Republican candidates for state Senate and state House, small-town Republican committees, and county sheriffs and district attorneys were all "recipients of [Romney's] largesse."Alec MacGillis, "Unremitting: How Romney wore down New Hampshire" (November 3, 2011). New Republic. Romney was criticized by some as "buying" endorsements, who referenced "blatantly transactional terms that lie behind the announcements."Alec MacGillis, "Buys, Er, Receives Haley Nod" (December 16, 2011). New Republic. A large number of officials endorsing Romney, in New Hampshire and in other early primary states, had received contributions first.Edward Matson, "35 Romney endorsers received contributions first: Mitt takes the endorsement game "to a whole new level " (January 7, 2011). Salon.

By December 11, Romney had already received the endorsement of Ted Gatsas, mayor of Manchester (New Hampshire's largest city) and former state Senate president, and 58 endorsements from state representatives.Shira Schoenberg, "Mayor Ted Gatsas endorses Mitt Romney " (December 11, 2011). Boston Globe. According to prominent Romney supporter Thomas D. Rath, a former state attorney general described as a Republican power broker, on the eve of the primary the Romney campaign had been endorsed by 11 of 19 Republicans in the State Senate, 73 or 74 of the Republican state representatives, and eight of the 10 sheriffs, as well as the mayor of the largest city. The New York Times reported that so many officials endorsed Romney that it took a three-page pamphlet mailed to New Hampshire Republicans to list them all. The Times reported that Romney-supporting officials "introduce him at virtually every campaign stop, flood gyms and seniors centers with crowds on short notice and attack his Republican rivals."

New Hampshire House Speaker William L. (Bill) O'Brien endorsed Gingrich, while former House speakers George Roberts, Howard Burns, John Tucker, Donna Sytek, and Doug Scamman endorsed Romney.Amy Gardner, "Gingrich collects endorsements from Iowa, New Hampshire House speakers, faces Occupy-style protesters" (December 21, 2011). Washington Post.Philip Rucker, "In N.H. and Iowa, Gingrich and Romney engage in endorsements duel" (December 20, 2011). Washington Post.Michael Falcone and Amy Walter, "Rivals Try To Rain On Romney’s New Hampshire Parade" (December 21, 2011). ABC News. State Senators Jim Forsythe, Andy Sanborn, and Ray White endorsed Ron Paul.

Federal politicians Of the three Republicans in New Hampshire's congressional delegation, Senator Kelly Ayotte and Representative Charles Bass endorsed Romney, while Frank Guinta declined to endorse a candidate.Lauren W. Whittington, "Frank Guinta Declines to Make Pre-Primary Endorsement " (January 8, 2011). Roll Call. Executive Council members Raymond S. Burton (who has represented northern New Hampshire since the 1970s), Christopher T. Sununu, and Raymond Wieczorek; State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, state Senators David Boutin, John Barnes, Jr., Jim Rausch, and Chuck Morse; and former state Senate President Tom Eaton endorsed Romney before December 7.Shira Schoenberg, "Mitt Romney plans mailer for New Hampshire" (December 7, 2011). Boston Herald. Douglas Dutile, the sheriff of Grafton County, also endorsed Romney.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, who won the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2000 and 2008 and was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, endorsed Romney following the Iowa caucuses and ahead of the New Hampshire primary at a Manchester rally on January 4,Katharine Q. Seelye and Jeff Zeleny, "McCain Backs Romney After Santorum's Surge in Iowa (January 4, 2012). New York Times. despite prior tension between the two in the 2008 primary race.Peter Schroeder, "McCain downplays tension with Romney" (January 8, 2012). The Hill.Michael D. Shear, "Does McCain's Endorsement Really Help Romney? (January 5, 2012). New York Times.

Tea Party After Iowa but before the New Hampshire primaries, tea party movement-aligned Buffalo, New York businessman Carl Paladino, the 2010 gubernatorial candidate in nearby New York, supported Gingrich and sharply criticized the rest of the candidates.Benjy Sarlin, "Carl Paladino Trash-Talks The Entire GOP Field (Except Newt) " (January 8, 2012). Talking Points Memo.

Polling

Results

Delegates were awarded to candidates who got 10% or more of the vote proportionally. + New Hampshire Republican primary, February 10, 2012 - certified result Candidate Votes Percentage Projected delegate count AP CNN GPMitt Romney 97,591 39.28% 8 8 7 Ron Paul 56,872 22.89% 3 3 3 Jon Huntsman 41,964 16.89% 1 0 2Rick Santorum 23,432 9.43% 0 0 0 Newt Gingrich 23,421 9.43% 0 0 0 Rick Perry 1,764 0.71% 0 0 0 Buddy Roemer 950 0.38% 0 0 0 Michele Bachmann (withdrawn) 350 0.14% 0 0 0 Fred Karger 345 0.14% 0 0 0 Barack Obama (write-in) 285 0.11% 0 0 0 Kevin Rubash 250 0.10% 0 0 0 Gary Johnson (withdrawn) 181 0.07% 0 0 0 Herman Cain (withdrawn) 161 0.06% 0 0 0 Jeff Lawman 119 0.05% 0 0 0 Chris Hill 108 0.04% 0 0 0 Benjamin Linn 83 0.03% 0 0 0 Michael Meehan 54 0.02% 0 0 0 Keith Drummond 42 0.02% 0 0 0 Rickey Story 42 0.02% 0 0 0 Bear Betzler 29 0.01% 0 0 0 Joe Robinson 25 0.01% 0 0 0 Stewart Greenleaf 24 0.01% 0 0 0 Donald Trump (write-in) 24 0.01% 0 0 0 Sarah Palin (write-in) 23 0.01% 0 0 0 Mark Callahan 20 0.01% 0 0 0 Andy Martin 19 0.01% 0 0 0 Linden Swift 18 0.01% 0 0 0 Tim Brewer 15 0.01% 0 0 0 Vern Wuensche 15 0.01% 0 0 0 L. John Davis 14 0.01% 0 0 0 Randy Crow 12 0.00% 0 0 0 Vermin Supreme (write-in) 4 0.00% 0 0 0 James Vestermark 3 0.00% 0 0 0 Hugh Cort 3 0.00% 0 0 0 Other Write-insList also contain write-ins votes for Donald Trump and Sarah Palin: http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/Republican%20Write-Ins.pdf 213 0.09% 0 0 0 Total: 248,475 100.00% 12 11 12

References