Story Archives of 'Primary 2004'

The completion of the New Hampshire primary brings to an end an experiment that we conducted with public radio station KUNI in Iowa. Months before the caucuses, we paired five voters in Iowa with five voters here at home and let them share their observations through a weblog called Primary Frontline Pen Pals.

We reached five of our bloggers and asked them to evaluate the conduct of the candidates and the overall tenor of the campaigns. Their views thoroughly reflect the trademark retail politics of the early presidential contests.

John Kerry cruised to easy victory in yesterday's Democratic presidential primary. He took 7 of 10 counties to defeat his chief rival, former Vermont governor Howard Dean by 13 points. Afterwards, loyalists of both candidates said they were pleased with the outcome.

New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers has more.

What differentiates voters in Berlin versus Belmont or Claremont from Concord or East Manchester from West Manchester? As we hit the polls on Primary Day, we'll see how the education, occupations and native born populations of different Granite State towns affects they way it may tend to vote. Laura's guests are Michael Dupre, Professor of Sociology at Saint Anselm College and research fellow at The New Hampshire Institute of Politics along with NHPR reporters Raquel Maria Dillon, Dan Gorenstein, and Trish Anderton.

Morning Edition Host Lisa Peakes talks to North Country reporter Trish Anderton about the elections in Dixville Notch and Hart's Location.

Long before the soundbites and television ads, the Presidential candidates wandered, sometimes alone, in our coffee shops, rotary clubs and country stores. Journalist Walter Shapiro captures the campaign's very early days before all the polish and shine.