Primary Colors
The last U.S. presidential hopeful to win the White House without stepping foot in New Hampshire was Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower, who defeated Sen. Robert A. Taft (R-Ohio) in the first modern New Hampshire primary in 1952. Since then the state’s “first in the nation” primary status makes it, and Hanover, a mandatory stop for candidates. “Students get a firsthand view of the parade of candidates and witness how they lay out ideas, handle questions and cope with opponents,” says Jennifer Avellino ’89, who covered the 1988 primary as news director for WDCR/WFRD before she went on to cover politics for CNN for 17 years. “They also get a special look at the spin cycle of presidential politics. Students can judge for themselves whether the press buys into the spin.” With candidates once again in Hanover for an October 11 debate, here’s a look at some of the many presidential wannabes who’ve come to campus in search of votes.
