In the small American state of New Hampshire, voters, who will vote on Tuesday for the Republican and Democratic primaries, are doing nothing like the others.
Just look at the presidential candidates who have seen their ambitions reduced to nothing over the decades, subjected to a demanding electorate.
Even Joe Biden’s White House dreams nearly faded after a disastrous fifth-place finish in the 2020 New Hampshire primary. His campaign, considered cold and distant, had irritated this state, which attaches great importance to the personality of the candidates.
On Tuesday, new presidential candidates, vying for their party’s nomination, will face an electorate imbued with a fierce spirit of independence, having given birth to the state motto, “Live free or die “.
Rather old, white, distrustful of the government, this very rural state which has only 1.4 million inhabitants is partly similar to Ohio or Iowa, two conservative states.
But the educated electorate, opposed to the church, has as much in common with the liberal states of New York, Maine or Vermont.
A former Republican stronghold that has leaned to the left in recent years, it is one of the few where local politics can still help or break the dynamic of the candidates.
Over a coffee
The latter do not necessarily appear on billboards or radio and TV waves, but rather in a bar or restaurant to chat over coffee.
“Voters are doing a very good job of selecting candidates in New Hampshire,” said Amanda Wihby of the Red Arrow Diner, a restaurant that has become a popular meeting place for elected officials and voters in New Hampshire’s largest city. State, Manchester. “We take being ‘first in the nation’ very seriously. »
Although this is the first primary in the United States, New Hampshire follows the Iowa caucuses, and is therefore the second state to vote for the presidential nomination.
But New Hampshire shapes the rest of the campaign as a more reliable indicator of public opinion than Iowa, and it attracts high-profile American figures.
“Often, customers come in […] and the contestants sit down with them, chat and order a meal. Or they come behind the counter, offer them coffee and answer their questions,” explains Mme Wihby to AFP.
“They’re really having a good time. Customers appreciate it very much. I don’t think our customers lose sight of the fact that they are at the forefront of democracy, right here in the restaurant. »
The Red Arrow has hosted most of this year’s candidates, including Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. The stakes of the Republican primary which sees them face each other are greater than for the Democrats, Joe Biden being a candidate for re-election.
The current president will not be on the ballot this time, however, as the Democratic Party seeks to reform the primary calendar to focus on more diverse states.
“Without equivalent”
Independent voters rule the roost in New Hampshire. They represent a much larger share of the electorate than registered Republicans or Democrats.
Here they can vote in either primary, prompting both parties to campaign intensely for their support.
“It’s fun to meet the candidates, think about the issues and listen to what others have to say,” said Jyl Dittbener, a customer who came to Red Arrow to talk politics. “It’s good to listen to what your friends and family think and it’s a way to start a conversation.” »
The tradition of New Hampshire primaries begins in Dixville Notch Township, 30 kilometers from the Canadian border, where the first votes are cast at midnight.
A symbol of the state’s commitment to civic participation, its 400-member House of Representatives is the third largest elected legislative body in the English-speaking world, after the United States House of Representatives and the House of Representatives. British commons.
“I went to school in New Hampshire and worked on political campaigns when I was younger,” said Jim Herchek, 70, a retired businessman who came to Manchester from New York. with friends to volunteer for Donald Trump’s campaign. “They are always unique. These are always unique events. »