Holy Cow History | A quiz about New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary

 For more than a century, the Granite State has officially set the nominating process in motion by hosting the nation’s first presidential primary. But how much do you know about this political tradition? Test your knowledge with this short, fun quiz.

1. What year did New Hampshire hold its very first “First in the Nation” primary?

A: 1900

B: 1916

C: 1920

D: 1924

2. Which of the following candidates has NEVER won the New Hampshire primary?

A: Joe Biden

B: Bob Dole

C: Eugene McCarthy

D: All the above

3. Who famously said he ‘paid for this microphone’ at a GOP debate during the 1980 primary?

A: Howard Baker

B: John Anderson

C: Ronald Reagan

D: George H.W. Bush

4. Which Democratic presidential candidate was described as ‘likable enough’ by an opponent during a televised 2008 debate in New Hampshire?

A: Barack Obama

B: Hillary Clinton

C: John Edwards

D: Dennis Kucinich

5. When Joe Biden announced he wasn’t participating in this year’s New Hampshire primary, his supporters launched a write-in effort. Who was the last incumbent president to have this happen?

A: Harry Truman

B: Richard Nixon

C: Calvin Coolidge

D: Lyndon Johnson

6. Bill Clinton famously dubbed himself ‘The Comeback Kid’ when he finished second in the 1992 New Hampshire Democratic primary. Who won it?

A: Jerry Brown

B: Bob Kerrey

C: Tom Harkin

D: Paul Tsongas

Answers

1) C. New Hampshire held a primary in 1916 but it went second, behind Minnesota. In 1920, its first-in-the-nation primary tradition began. The biggest news of that primary weekend? A “paralyzing blizzard” that left eventual winner, Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, snowbound in Connecticut for 12 hours.

2) D. Biden lost in 2008 to Hillary Clinton and again in 2020 to Bernie Sanders; Dole lost in 1988 to George H.W. Bush and again in 1996 to Pat Buchanan; McCarthy lost to Lyndon Johnson in 1968.

3) C. Arguably the most famous moment in New Hampshire primary history, Reagan had a breakthrough moment at a debate in Nashua. It helped propel him to victory in the state days later.

4) B. Clinton was asked about her struggles with “likability” by a debate moderator. As she struggled to answer, Barack Obama interjected, “You’re likable enough, Hillary.” That backhanded compliment did not play well, and it’s believed to have contributed to Clinton’s upset win in the 2008 New Hampshire primary.

5) D. Johnson’s name did not appear on the Democratic ballot in 1968. Although he won the primary 48-42 percent over anti-war candidate Sen. Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, the narrow margin persuaded LBJ not to seek re-election.

6) D. The Massachusetts senator won New Hampshire as a regional “favorite son.” He also won his home state, but lost all four other New England states to Gov. Jerry Brown of California.