Spend more than ten minutes talking to a political junkie in New Hampshire, and you will hear some version of this old chestnut: Ask a New Hampshirite if he plans to vote for Candidate X for president, and he'll say, "I don't know; I've only seen her three times." The Granite State holds the first presidential primary (Iowa selects a candidate a week earlier, but through caucuses rather than an election), so voters there expect, and receive in profusion, face-to-face contact with anyone who wants their vote. During a recent five-day stretch, eight candidates popped up across the state, their appearances fostered by groups of dedicated local volunteers. This fits well with the state's political culture, which is equal parts charming and lunatic.
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