Voter Engagement Adds Value to New Hampshire Primary, Say Experts

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The New Hampshire primary is the “cultural epicenter” of politics. The centennial celebration of the New Hampshire primary centered on this theme Wednesday night, as a panel gathered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. to discuss the primary’s political and historical value.

Bloomberg Columnist Albert Hunt moderated the discussion with Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., political consultant James Carville, former New Hampshire Attorney General Tom Rath and New Hampshire Union Leader Publisher Joe McQuaid.

Members of the panel said the benefits of the open primary in New Hampshire force the candidates to interact with voters on the ground and be authentic, especially when it comes to networking with independent and influential voters. In contrast with the closed Iowa caucuses New Hampshire can feel more like an election, they said, though the momentum from success in Iowa doesn’t hurt a candidate in New Hampshire.

The panelists reminisced about the days when candidates, consultants and journalists would socialize at the Mayfair Hotel bar but said that time ended with the age of Twitter, trackers, and “gotcha politics,” making the future of the primary less clear.

Shaheen ended with the note that New Hampshire will always be important as one of the few stops on the modern campaign trail where candidates really have to engage with voters. On the potential 2016 field? Most were reluctant to comment, though Jeb Bush was one of the first names thrown out. Carville said he doubted Bush could win in Iowa and that if he didn’t win New Hampshire, there was a threat that Mitt Romney could get back in the race.

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