The New Hampshire Primary is important cog in primary politics because it is the second event which gives the United States a view of who are the top political candidates for their parties' nomination. It is common for New Hampshire to reflect what the people of Iowa vote for. However, this is not always the case as is in the recent polls for Senator Clinton and Senator McCain.

There are two main types of primaries in US Politics, open or closed, which dictates who is eligible to vote in the primary. In an open primary, on the other hand, a registered voter can vote in either primary regardless of party membership. However, the voter cannot participate in more than one primary. A third less common type of primary, the blanket primary, allows registered voters to participate in all primaries. In primary politics, closed primaries a registered voter may vote only in the election for the party with which that voter is affiliated or registered as (Democrat, Republican, Green parties). A voter registered as Democrat can vote only in the Democratic primary and a Republican can vote only in the Republican primary.

To explain further differences in the Primary voters are eligible to vote in the primary, there are differences in whether the ballot lists candidate or delegate names. The presidential preference primary is a direct vote for a specific candidate. The voter chooses the candidate by name. The second method is more indirect, giving the voter a choice among delegate names rather than candidate names. As in the caucus, delegates voice support for a particular candidate or remain uncommitted

The New Hampshire Primary is a closed primary. Votes can only be cast to for the part which the voter is registered. Additionally, a voter registered as a Republican choosing to participate In the New Hampshire Primary must vote in the Republican Primary. Likewise, a Democrat choosing to participate must vote in the Democratic party. However, because New Hampshire allows people who are independent to choose either party it could easily be considered as an open primary based on the independents option to vote.

In a current update regarding the current 2008 New Hampshire the political machine plugs along as we see a surprise surge as Senator Clinton narrowly ousts Senator Obama. This surprise comes to both Democratic presidential candidates and shows how for whatever polling is being conducted he voters have the ultimate voice and decision in both primaries and in the interest of national politics. In yet another surprise Republicans watched as the Huckabee falls to third place and John McCain is seen as the comeback kid after receiving the most votes in the New Hampshire Republican Primary.