2012 United States presidential election in New Hampshire

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Main|2012 United States presidential election}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2012 United States presidential election in New Hampshire

| country = New Hampshire

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2008 United States presidential election in New Hampshire

| previous_year = 2008

| next_election = 2016 United States presidential election in New Hampshire

| next_year = 2016

| election_date = November 6, 2012

| image_size = x200px

| image1 = President Barack Obama, 2012 portrait crop.jpg

| nominee1 = Barack Obama

| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)

| home_state1 = Illinois

| running_mate1 = Joe Biden

| electoral_vote1 = 4

| popular_vote1 = 369,561

| percentage1 = 51.98%

| image2 = Mitt_Romney_by_Gage_Skidmore_6_cropped.jpg

| nominee2 = Mitt Romney

| party2 = Republican Party (United States)

| home_state2 = Massachusetts

| running_mate2 = Paul Ryan

| electoral_vote2 = 0

| popular_vote2 = 329,918

| percentage2 = 46.40%

| map = {{switcher

|x280px

|County results

|x280px

|Municipality results

|x280px

|Congressional district results}}

| map_caption =

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

Obama

{{legend|#b9d7ff|40–50%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|50–60%}}

{{legend|#4389e3|60–70%}}

{{legend|#1666cb|70–80%}}

{{legend|#002B84|90–100%}}

{{col-3}}

Romney

{{legend|#f2b3be|40–50%}}

{{legend|#e27f90|50–60%}}

{{legend|#cc2f4a|60–70%}}

{{legend|#D40000|70–80%}}

{{col-3}}

Tie/No data

{{legend|#d4c4dcff|50–60%}}

{{legend|#b3b3b3ff}}

{{col-end}}

| title = President

| before_election = Barack Obama

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = Barack Obama

| after_party = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Elections in New Hampshire sidebar}}

{{US 2012 elections series}}

The 2012 United States presidential election in New Hampshire took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the 2012 United States presidential election in which all 50 states plus the District of Columbia participated. New Hampshire voters chose four electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan.

New Hampshire voters chose to re-elect President Barack Obama, giving him 51.98% of the vote to Mitt Romney's 46.40%, a Democratic victory margin of 5.58%. Despite Obama winning all of the state's counties in 2008, he lost three of them to Romney this election: Belknap, Carroll, and Rockingham.

As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time in which the Democratic candidate won Coös County.

Primaries

=Democratic primary=

{{main|2012 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary}}

New Hampshire held its primaries on January 10, 2012. The state is historically the first in the nation to hold presidential primaries, and moved its date up from February after Florida moved its primary date to January 31. Because New Hampshire has a proportional-delegate primary, the state's 12 national delegates will be allocated in proportion to candidates' percent of the popular vote.{{cite news|title=Election Guide 2012 - Presidential Election - Politics|work=The New York Times|url=http://politics.nytimes.com/packages/html/election-guide/2008/primaries/states/NH.html}}"Candidates win delegates in proportion to the votes they get, though they must win at least 10 percent of the ballots cast to be eligible for the allocation. The statewide winner gets the remainder of the 12 delegates if the threshold requirement leaves some unaccounted for.": {{cite news|last=Giroux|first=Greg|date=January 10, 2012|title=New Hampshire primary: How it works and how the candidates are faring|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/new-hampshire-republican-primary-awards-12-convention-delegates/2012/01/10/gIQAHktFoP_story_1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216192155/http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/new-hampshire-republican-primary-awards-12-convention-delegates/2012/01/10/gIQAHktFoP_story_1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2012}}

Incumbent president Barack Obama won all the delegates and was renominated.

A Democratic presidential candidates debate, held at Saint Anselm College in December 2011, was attended by seven candidates; Obama did not participate.{{cite web |url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111220/NEWS0605/712209967 |title = Lesser-known candidates bring colorful campaigns to St. Anselm {{!}} New Hampshire NEWS0605 |access-date=2012-08-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308183649/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111220/NEWS0605/712209967 |archive-date=2012-03-08 |url-status=dead }}

60,659 votes were cast in the primary. Obama won with 49,080 votes. The total votes cast were more than 30% fewer than in 1996, the last time that a Democratic president ran for re-election without significant opposition.{{cite web |title=New Hampshire Results Point to a Notable Democratic Enthusiasm Gap |author=John Nichols |date=January 11, 2012 |publisher=The Nation|url=http://www.thenation.com/blog/165602/new-hampshire-results-point-notable-democratic-enthusiasm-gap|access-date=2012-01-13}}

class="wikitable sortable"
valign=bottom

! class="unsortable"|

! Candidate

! Votes{{cite web |title=New Hampshire Democratic Delegation 2012 |date=January 28, 2012 |publisher=The Green Papers|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/NH-D|access-date=2012-02-21}}

! Percentage

! Delegates

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Barack Obama (incumbent)

| 49,080

| 80.91%

| 10

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Ron Paul (write-in)

| 2,289

| 3.77%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Mitt Romney (write-in)

| 1,814

| 2.99%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Jon Huntsman (write-in)

| 1,238

| 2.04%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Ed Cowan

| 945

| 1.56%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Vermin Supreme

| 833

| 1.37%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Randall Terry

| 446

| 1%

| -

{{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}

| Scatter (write-in)

| 772

| 1.27%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| John D. Haywood

| 423

| 0.70%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Craig Freis

| 400

| 0.66%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Rick Santorum (write-in)

| 302

| 0.50%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Bob Ely

| 287

| 0.47%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Newt Gingrich (write-in)

| 276

| 0.46%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Cornelius Edward O'Connor

| 265

| 0.44%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Darcy Richardson

| 264

| 0.44%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| John Wolfe, Jr.

| 245

| 0.40%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Edward T. O'Donnell

| 222

| 0.37%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Bob Greene

| 213

| 0.35%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Robert B. Jordan

| 155

| 0.26%

| -

{{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

| Aldous C. Tyler

| 106

| 0.17%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Buddy Roemer (write-in)

| 29

| 0.05%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Fred Karger

| 26

| 0.04%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Rick Perry (write-in)

| 17

| 0.03%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Stewart Greenleaf (write-in)

| 4

| 0.01%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Gary Johnson (write-in)

| 4

| 0.01%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Michael Meehan

| 4

| 0.01%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Michele Bachmann (write-in)

| 2

| 0.00%

| -

{{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

| Herman Cain (write-in)

| 1

| 0.00%

| -

=Republican primary=

{{Main|2012 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2012 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

| country = New Hampshire

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2008 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

| previous_year = 2008

| election_date = {{Start date|2012|01|10}}

| next_election = 2016 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

| next_year = 2016

| image1 = Mitt_Romney_by_Gage_Skidmore_6_cropped.jpg

| candidate1 = Mitt Romney

| color1 = ff6600

| home_state1 = Massachusetts

| delegate_count1 = 7

| popular_vote1 = 97,591

| percentage1 = 39.28%

| image2 = Ron Paul by Gage Skidmore 3 (crop 2).jpg

| color2 = ffcc00

| candidate2 = Ron Paul

| home_state2 = Texas

| delegate_count2 = 3

| popular_vote2 = 56,872

| percentage2 = 22.89%

| image3 = Ambassador Jon Huntsman.jpg

| color3 = d30b41

| candidate3 = Jon Huntsman

| home_state3 = Utah

| delegate_count3 = 2[https://archive.today/20120731052236/http://www.democraticconventionwatch.com/diary/5110/huntsman-still-has-his-2-nh-delegatesfor-now Huntsman still has his 2 NH delegates...for now], DemocraticConventionWatch.com (Feb. 2, 2012)

| popular_vote3 = 41,964

| percentage3 = 16.89%

| image4 = Rick Santorum by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| color4 = 008000

| candidate4 = Rick Santorum

| home_state4 = Pennsylvania

| delegate_count4 = 0

| popular_vote4 = 23,432

| percentage4 = 9.43%

| image5 = Newt Gingrich by Gage Skidmore 3 (cropped).jpg

| color5 = 800080

| candidate5 = Newt Gingrich

| home_state5 = Georgia

| delegate_count5 = 0

| popular_vote5 = 23,421

| percentage5 = 9.43%

| image_size = x125px

| map_image = New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Election Results by County, 2012.svg

| map_size = 250px

| map_caption = New Hampshire results by county

{{legend|#ff6600|Mitt Romney}}

{{legend|#ffcc00|Ron Paul}}

}}

The Republican primary took place on Tuesday, January 10, 2012.{{Cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/02/breaking-new-hampshire-primary-date-set/?hpt=hp_t2 |title=CNN.com: New Hampshire to vote Jan. 10 |access-date=November 2, 2011 |archive-date=December 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227070930/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/02/breaking-new-hampshire-primary-date-set/?hpt=hp_t2 |url-status=dead }} Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the primary.

==Campaign==

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum were heavily contesting and campaigning in the New Hampshire primary. Santorum won the Iowa Caucus on January 3, but no one knew that yet, and believed Romney had won by 8 votes.

Televised debates in New Hampshire were held on January 7, 2012, on ABC News at Saint Anselm College and the following morning on January 8, 2012, on NBC's Meet the Press and MSNBC. All major Republican candidates attended both debates.

==Ballot access==

In 2012, a record 33 Republican candidates filed to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire, including various single-issue activists, protest candidates, and perennial candidates.{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/10/primary-ballot-becomes-equalizer-between-top-tier-perennial-candidates/MkD7dWcT2Nq0gUe2Gv1GuM/index.html |work=The Boston Globe |title=N.H. primary ballot becomes equalizer between top-tier, perennial candidates |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031070445/http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/10/primary-ballot-becomes-equalizer-between-top-tier-perennial-candidates/MkD7dWcT2Nq0gUe2Gv1GuM/index.html |archive-date=October 31, 2011 }} For instance, Stewart Greenleaf, who had no interest in becoming president, registered for the ballot to promote the issue of government spending in the Republican Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/132971083.html |title=Sen. Greenleaf to seek a national stage with presidential ballot spot - Philly.com |website=www.philly.com |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908071129/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/132971083.html |archive-date=8 September 2012 |url-status=dead}} Under New Hampshire's lenient ballot access laws, a candidate is only required to pay $1,000 to the state's treasury, and needs no party approval or petitions for placement.{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-oct-28-la-pn-new-hampshire-ballot-20111028-story.html | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Michael A. | last=Memoli | title=Record number of Republicans file for New Hampshire primary | date=October 28, 2011}}

==Endorsements==

Various newspapers that circulate widely in New Hampshire made endorsements ahead of the New Hampshire primary.Paul Briand, "Rundown of NH newspaper endorsements in GOP presidential race" (January 6, 2012). Examiner.com. While the conservative Union Leader, the only statewide newspaper, endorsed Gingrich, various newspapers endorsed Huntsman, with the Valley News stating that Huntsman was "a candidate whose views are solidly conservative, but not myopically so" and criticizing Romney and Gingrich, stating that "The former has raised the flip-flop to an art form, while the latter has done the same for hypocrisy" and endorsing Huntsman "in the hopes that the cooler heads will prevail in New Hampshire and elsewhere." Romney also received support, including from the Portsmouth Herald of the Seacoast Region.Ros Krasny, "[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-campaign-huntsman-idUSTRE7BH0KO20111218 Huntsman gets New Hampshire newspaper endorsements]" (December 18, 2011). Reuters.

  • The New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed Gingrich on November 27.Joseph W. McQuaid. "[http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111127/NEWS0605/711279999/-1/opinion01 An Editorial: For President, Newt Gingrich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183940/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111127/NEWS0605/711279999/-1/opinion01 |date=2016-03-03 }}" (November 27, 2011). New Hampshire Union Leader.
  • Foster's Daily Democrat endorsed Romney on December 4."[http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111204/GJOPINION_01/712049913/-1/FOSOPINION Mitt Romney: Best suited to be the GOP's standard-bearer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730181033/https://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111204/GJOPINION_01/712049913/-1/FOSOPINION |date=July 30, 2020 }}" (December 4, 2011). Foster's Daily Democrat.
  • The Portsmouth Herald and Seacoast Media Group endorsed Romney on December 18."[http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20111218-OPINION-112180321 Economic smarts make Romney best of GOP field] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116101544/http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20111218-OPINION-112180321 |date=2012-01-16 }}" (December 18, 2011). Portsmouth Herald.
  • The Keene Sentinel endorsed Huntsman on December 18."[http://www.sentinelsource.com/opinion/editorial/jon-huntsman/article_ed74734d-9365-5b11-a1ac-0db282b46c2d.html Jon Huntsman]" (December 18, 2011). Keene Sentinel.
  • The Valley News endorsed Huntsman on December 18."[http://www.vnews.com/12182011/8225718.htm Jon Huntsman: The Better Choice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114142540/http://www.vnews.com/12182011/8225718.htm |date=2012-01-14 }}" (December 18, 2011). Valley News.
  • The Conway Daily Sun endorsed Romney on December 21.http://www.conwaydailysun.com/editorials/story/romney-win
  • The Concord Monitor endorsed Huntsman on December 22."[http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/299756/huntsman-is-the-best-choice-for-gop?CSAuthResp=1326088487%3Adsuvf5ka6gedrnokvh6fvcgf20%3ACSUserId|CSGroupId%3Aapproved%3AD71F36F4D32FAB49ADE5927806A727DB&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 Huntsman is the best choice for GOP]" (December 22, 2011). Concord Monitor.
  • The Boston Herald endorsed Romney."[http://bostonherald.com/news/opinion/editorials/view.bg?articleid=1391507&format=text Endorsement: Nation needs Romney]" (December 28, 2011). Boston Herald.
  • The Salmon Press Newspapers group (the Littleton Courier, Berlin Reporter, and Coos County Democrat) endorsed Paul on January 4.Kenneth Rapoza, "[https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/01/04/three-nh-newspapers-endorse-ron-paul/ Three NH Newspapers Endorse Ron Paul]" (January 4, 2012). Forbes.
  • The Nashua Telegraph endorsed Romney on January 5."[http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/opinioneditorials/945326-263/romney-best-choice-for-gop.html Romney our choice for GOP nomination]" (December 5, 2011). Nashua Telegraph.
  • The Boston Globe endorsed Huntsman on January 6."[http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-06/bostonglobe/30598700_1_romney-and-jon-huntsman-gop-candidates-health-care-reform For vision and national unity, Huntsman for GOP nominee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326014453/http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-06/bostonglobe/30598700_1_romney-and-jon-huntsman-gop-candidates-health-care-reform |date=2012-03-26 }}" (January 6, 2012). Boston Globe.{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/jon-huntsmans-global-warming-views-earn-kudos-boston-172800753.html |title=Jon Huntsman's Global Warming Views Earn Kudos from Boston Globe - Yahoo! News |access-date=2017-01-15 |archive-date=2012-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819172750/http://news.yahoo.com/jon-huntsmans-global-warming-views-earn-kudos-boston-172800753.html |url-status=dead }}
  • The Eagle-Tribune endorsed Romney on January 6."[http://www.eagletribune.com/opinion/x1477842297/Editorial-Romney-is-best-choice-in-New-Hampshire Editorial: Romney is best choice in New Hampshire]" (January 6, 2011). Eagle-Tribune.

Romney led the field in endorsements from New Hampshire Republican elected officials.Nicholas Confessore, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/us/politics/in-nh-allies-in-high-places-help-power-the-romney-machine.html For Romney, Friends in High Places Help Get Out the N.H. Vote]" (January 9, 2012), New York Times. The New York Times reported that after losing New Hampshire in the 2008 primary to John McCain, Romney devoted considerable time and money to gain the support of New Hampshire Republican figures. Romney's political action committee (PAC) "spread thousands of dollars" to New Hampshire Republican campaigns, including that of youthful Republican state Representative D.J. Bettencourt of the Republican-heavy Salem area, elected state House majority leader in 2011, who is one of Romney's most active supporters. Romney's PAC also donated $25,000 to the New Hampshire Republican State Committee under the chairmanship of prominent New Hampshire party player John H. Sununu, a former governor and White House Chief of Staff. Republican candidates for state Senate and state House, small-town Republican committees, and county sheriffs and district attorneys were all "recipients of [Romney's] largesse."Alec MacGillis, "[http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/magazine/96112/unremitting-mitt-romney-new-hampshire-gop-primaries Unremitting: How Romney wore down New Hampshire]" (November 3, 2011). New Republic. Romney was criticized by some as "buying" endorsements, who referenced "blatantly transactional terms that lie behind the announcements."Alec MacGillis, "[http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-stump/98641/mitt-buys-er-receives-haley-nod Buys, Er, Receives Haley Nod]" (December 16, 2011). New Republic. A large number of officials endorsing Romney, in New Hampshire and in other early primary states, had received contributions first.Edward Matson, "[http://www.salon.com/2012/01/07/35_romney_endorsers_received_contributions_first/singleton/ 35 Romney endorsers received contributions first: Mitt takes the endorsement game "to a whole new level]" (January 7, 2011). Salon.

By December 11, Romney had already received the endorsement of Ted Gatsas, mayor of Manchester (New Hampshire's largest city) and former state Senate president, and 58 endorsements from state representatives.Shira Schoenberg, "[http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/12/mayor-ted-gatsas-endorses-mitt-romney/OHLNahvxFajuvCSqNZZ4fL/index.html Mayor Ted Gatsas endorses Mitt Romney] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110173004/http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/12/mayor-ted-gatsas-endorses-mitt-romney/OHLNahvxFajuvCSqNZZ4fL/index.html |date=2012-01-10 }}" (December 11, 2011). Boston Globe. According to prominent Romney supporter Thomas D. Rath, a former state attorney general described as a Republican power broker, on the eve of the primary the Romney campaign had been endorsed by 11 of 19 Republicans in the State Senate, 73 or 74 of the Republican state representatives, and eight of the 10 sheriffs, as well as the mayor of the largest city. The New York Times reported that so many officials endorsed Romney that it took a three-page pamphlet mailed to New Hampshire Republicans to list them all. The Times reported that Romney-supporting officials "introduce him at virtually every campaign stop, flood gyms and seniors centers with crowds on short notice and attack his Republican rivals."

Of the three Republicans in New Hampshire's congressional delegation, Senator Kelly Ayotte and Representative Charles Bass endorsed Romney, while Frank Guinta declined to endorse a candidate.Lauren W. Whittington, "[http://www.rollcall.com/news/Frank-Guinta-NH-primary-endorsement-2012-211398-1.html Frank Guinta Declines to Make Pre-Primary Endorsement]" (January 8, 2011). Roll Call. Executive Council members Raymond S. Burton (who has represented northern New Hampshire since the 1970s), Christopher T. Sununu, and Raymond Wieczorek; State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, state Senators David Boutin, John Barnes, Jr., Jim Rausch, and Chuck Morse; and former state Senate President Tom Eaton endorsed Romney before December 7.Shira Schoenberg, "[https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2011/12/07/mitt-romney-plains-mailer-for-new-hampshire/a2sqca8025vLk4HdQyOGKI/story.html Mitt Romney plans mailer for New Hampshire]" (December 7, 2011). Boston Herald. Douglas Dutile, the sheriff of Grafton County, also endorsed Romney.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, who won the New Hampshire Republican primary in 2000 and 2008 and was the Republican nominee for president in 2008, endorsed Romney following the Iowa caucuses and ahead of the New Hampshire primary at a Manchester rally on January 4,Katharine Q. Seelye and Jeff Zeleny, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/us/politics/dueling-romney-santorum-surges-in-iowa-caucuses.html?pagewanted=all McCain Backs Romney After Santorum's Surge in Iowa] (January 4, 2012). New York Times. despite prior tension between the two in the 2008 primary race.Peter Schroeder, "[https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/102155-mccain-downplays-tension-with-romney/ McCain downplays tension with Romney]" (January 8, 2012). The Hill.Michael D. Shear, "[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/does-mccains-endorsement-really-help-romney/ Does McCain's Endorsement Really Help Romney?] (January 5, 2012). New York Times.

After Iowa but before the New Hampshire primaries, tea party movement-aligned Buffalo, New York businessman Carl Paladino, the 2010 gubernatorial candidate in nearby New York, supported Gingrich and sharply criticized the rest of the candidates.Benjy Sarlin, "[http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/carl-paladino-backs-newt-over-establishment-bullsh-t.php Carl Paladino Trash-Talks The Entire GOP Field (Except Newt)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109062152/http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/carl-paladino-backs-newt-over-establishment-bullsh-t.php |date=2012-01-09 }}" (January 8, 2012). Talking Points Memo.

New Hampshire House Speaker William L. (Bill) O'Brien endorsed Gingrich, while former House speakers George Roberts, Howard Burns, John Tucker, Donna Sytek, and Doug Scamman endorsed Romney.Amy Gardner, "[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/2011/12/21/gIQAnSGJ9O_blog.html Gingrich collects endorsements from Iowa, New Hampshire House speakers, faces Occupy-style protesters]" (December 21, 2011). Washington Post.Philip Rucker, "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/in-nh-and-iowa-gingrich-and-romney-engage-in-endorsements-duel/2011/12/20/gIQAgHPL8O_blog.html In N.H. and Iowa, Gingrich and Romney engage in endorsements duel]" (December 20, 2011). Washington Post.Michael Falcone and Amy Walter, "[https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/rivals-try-to-rain-on-romneys-new-hampshire-parade-the-note/ Rivals Try To Rain On Romney's New Hampshire Parade]" (December 21, 2011). ABC News. State Senators Jim Forsythe, Andy Sanborn, and Ray White endorsed Ron Paul.

Notably, former PA Sen. Rick Santorum gained a disproportionately high number of endorsements (when compared to his pre-Iowa polling in the single digits) in the run up to and including the NH Primary. At one point Santorum led the entire field of GOP candidates in total number of endorsements (until the entrance of Romney and Perry), and finished with more endorsees than even Huntsman who finished third in the race. This was due in large part to the efforts of Santorum's State Co-chairs: Rep. Dan Tamburello, a current member of the NH House of Representatives from Londonderry who spearheaded the effort, Hon. Bill Cahill, a former Governor's Councilor and member of the NH House, and Claira Monier, a notable Republican party activist who was instrumental in Reagan's NH victory in 1980. Sen Santorum's national campaign manager was by Mike Biundo, who was the architect of former Manchester mayor Frank Guinta's surprising 2010 primary upset for the NH 1st Congressional district; Guinta went on to win the NH-1 district in November 2010 in a decisive victory over Democrat Carol-Shea Porter, who never conceded the race. Other notable endorsements for the Senator included Sen. Jim Luther, Sen. Fenton Groen, former candidate for Governor Karen Testerman, Rep Susan DeLemus, and NH Tea-Party luminary Jerry DeLemus. Testerman and the DeLemus' endorsed Rick after having defected from the Bachmann camp.

==Polling==

{{main|Statewide opinion polling for the January 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries#New Hampshire (January 10)}}

==Results==

{{Main|Results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

[[File:New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Election Results by Town, 2012.png|thumb|

New Hampshire results by municipality


{{legend|#ff6600|Mitt Romney}}{{legend|#ffcc00|Ron Paul}}{{legend|#D30B41|Jon Huntsman}}{{legend|#C9C9C9|Not reported}}]]

class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"

|+ New Hampshire Republican primary, February 10, 2012 - certified result{{cite web|title=New Hampshire Secretary of State 2012 Presidential Primary Election Results|url=http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/RepSummaryPres.htm|access-date=29 March 2012}}

rowspan="2" | Candidate

! rowspan="2" | Votes

! rowspan="2" | Percentage

! colspan="3" style="width:145px;"| Projected delegate count

AP{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/primaries/newhampshire | work=USA Today | title=2012 Election: Primaries}}

! CNN{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/state/nh |work=CNN |title=Iowa Results |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303100515/http://edition.cnn.com/election/2012/primaries/state/nh |archive-date=March 3, 2012 }}

! GP{{cite web|url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/NH-R |title=New Hampshire Republican Delegation 2012 |publisher=Thegreenpapers.com |date= |accessdate=2022-01-26}}

style="text-align:left;"|Mitt Romney

| 97,591

| 39.28%

| 8

| 8

| 7

style="text-align:left;"| Ron Paul

| 56,872

| 22.89%

| 3

| 3

| 3

style="text-align:left;"| Jon Huntsman

| 41,964

| 16.89%

| 1

| 0

| 2

style="text-align:left;"|Rick Santorum

| 23,432

| 9.43%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Newt Gingrich

| 23,421

| 9.43%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Rick Perry

| 1,764

| 0.71%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Buddy Roemer

| 950

| 0.38%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Michele Bachmann (withdrawn)

| 350

| 0.14%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Fred Karger

| 345

| 0.14%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Barack Obama (write-in)

| 285

| 0.11%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Kevin Rubash

| 250

| 0.10%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Gary Johnson (withdrawn)

| 181

| 0.07%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Herman Cain (withdrawn)

| 161

| 0.06%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Jeff Lawman

| 119

| 0.05%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Chris Hill

| 108

| 0.04%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Benjamin Linn

| 83

| 0.03%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Michael Meehan

| 54

| 0.02%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Keith Drummond

| 42

| 0.02%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Rickey Story

| 42

| 0.02%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Bear Betzler

| 29

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Joe Robinson

| 25

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Stewart Greenleaf

| 24

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Donald Trump (write-in)

| 24

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Sarah Palin (write-in)

| 23

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Mark Callahan

| 20

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Andy Martin

| 19

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Linden Swift

| 18

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Tim Brewer

| 15

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Vern Wuensche

| 15

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| L. John Davis

| 14

| 0.01%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Randy Crow

| 12

| 0.00%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Vermin Supreme (write-in)

| 4

| 0.00%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| James Vestermark

| 3

| 0.00%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Hugh Cort

| 3

| 0.00%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="text-align:left;"| Other Write-insList also contain write-ins votes for Donald Trump and Sarah Palin: http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/Republican%20Write-Ins.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051658/http://www.sos.nh.gov/presprim2012/Republican%20Write-Ins.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }}

| 213

| 0.09%

| 0

| 0

| 0

style="background:#eee;"

| Total:

| 248,475

| 100.00%

| 12

| 11

| 12

General election

=Polling=

{{main|Statewide opinion polling for the 2012 United States presidential election}}

New Hampshire was rated as a toss-up{{cite web|url=http://cookpolitical.com/charts/president/ev_scorecard_2012-07-02_16-11-49.php|title=The Cook Political Report: 2012 Electoral Vote Scorecard|date=July 2, 2012|author=Charlie Cook|access-date=August 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719060338/http://cookpolitical.com/charts/president/ev_scorecard_2012-07-02_16-11-49.php|archive-date=July 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/tight-national-race-freezes-electoral-college-map/|title=Sabato's Crystal Ball: Tight national race freezes electoral college map|date=Aug 2, 2012 | author=Larry Sabato}} to Lean D{{cite news|url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/romney-vs-obama-electoral-map | title=Huffpost politics: Obama vs. Romney electoral map| date=August 4, 2012 | author=Huffington Post}}{{cite news| url=http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/ | title=The New York Times: What Are Paul Ryan's Chances of Becoming President?| author=Nate Silver | date=August 4, 2012}} state. Polling showed a consistent single digit polling lead for President Obama. The average of the final 3 polls had Obama leading Romney 50% to 47.3%.{{cite web| url = https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/nh/new_hampshire_romney_vs_obama-2030.html#polls| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110504122010/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/nh/new_hampshire_romney_vs_obama-2030.html| archive-date = 2011-05-04| title = RealClearPolitics - Election 2012 - New Hampshire: Romney vs. Obama}}

=Predictions=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

align="left" |Huffington Post{{cite news|title=Huffington Post Election Dashboard|work=HuffPost|url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/romney-vs-obama-electoral-map |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130813173708/http://web.archive.org/web/20120502191502/http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2012/romney-vs-obama-electoral-map |archive-date=2013-08-13}}

|{{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}

|November 6, 2012

align="left" |CNN{{cite news|title=America's Choice 2012 Election Center: CNN Electoral Map|work=CNN|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/ecalculator#?battleground |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119130158/http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/ecalculator%23?battleground |archive-date=2013-01-19}}

|{{USRaceRating|Tossup}}

|November 6, 2012

align=left | New York Times{{cite news|title=Election 2012 - The Electoral Map: Building a Path to Victory|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2012/electoral-map.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708093751/http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/electoral-map |archive-date=2012-07-08}}

| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}

| November 6, 2012

align="left" |Washington Post{{cite news|title=2012 Presidential Election Results|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726195644/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/election-map-2012/president/ |archive-date=2012-07-26}}

|{{USRaceRating|Tossup}}

|November 6, 2012

align="left" |RealClearPolitics{{cite web| url = http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608112207/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/2012_elections_electoral_college_map.html| archive-date = 2011-06-08| title = RealClearPolitics - 2012 Election Maps - Battle for White House}}

|{{USRaceRating|Tossup}}

|November 6, 2012

align="left" |Sabato's Crystal Ball{{cite web|url= https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/|title= PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM}}

|{{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}

|November 5, 2012

align="left" |FiveThirtyEight{{cite web|url= https://www.masslive.com/news/2012/11/nate_silvers_political_calcula.html|title= Nate Silver's political calculations predict 2012 election outcome}}

|{{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}

|November 6, 2012

=Results=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
+ 2012 United States presidential election in New Hampshire{{cite web |url=http://sos.nh.gov/2012PresGen.aspx?id=28051 |title=New Hampshire Secretary of State |access-date=2012-11-10 }}
colspan="2" style="width: 15em" |Party

! style="width: 17em" |Candidate

! style="width: 17em" |Running mate

! style="width: 5em" |Votes

! style="width: 7em" |Percentage

! style="width: 5em" |Electoral votes

style="background:#33f; width:3px;"|

| style="width: 130px" | Democratic

| Barack Obama (incumbent)

| Joe Biden (incumbent)

| style="text-align:right;"| 369,561

| style="text-align:right;"| 51.98%

| style="text-align:right;"| 4

style="background:#f33; width:3px;"|

| style="width: 130px" | Republican

| Mitt Romney

| Paul Ryan

| style="text-align:right;"| 329,918

| style="text-align:right;"| 46.40%

| style="text-align:right;"| 0

style="background:gold; width:3px;"|

| style="width: 130px" | Libertarian

| Gary Johnson

| Jim Gray

| style="text-align:right;"| 8,212

| style="text-align:right;"| 1.16%

| style="text-align:right;"| 0

style="background:#999; width:3px;"|

| style="width: 130px" | Others

| colspan="2" | Others

| style="text-align:right;"| 2,573

| style="text-align:right;"| 0.36%

| style="text-align:right;"| 0

style="background:#ff7f00; width:3px;"|

| style="width: 130px" | Constitution

| Virgil Goode

| Jim Clymer

| style="text-align:right;"| 708

| style="text-align:right;"| 0.10%

| style="text-align:right;"| 0

style="background:#eee; text-align:right;"

| colspan="4"| Totals

710,972100.00%4

==By county==

width="60%" class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| County

! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Barack Obama
Democratic

! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Mitt Romney
Republican

! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Various candidates
Other parties

! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Margin

! style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2"| Total votes cast

style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| #

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| %

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| #

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| %

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| #

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| %

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| #

! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number"| %

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Republican}}| Belknap

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 15,890

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 46.89%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 17,571

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 51.85%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 426

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.26%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -1,681

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -4.96%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 33,887

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Republican}}| Carroll

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 13,977

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 48.87%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 14,207

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 49.67%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 418

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.46%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -230

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -0.80%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 28,602

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Cheshire

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 25,380

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 61.36%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 15,156

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 36.64%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 824

| {{party shading/Others}}| 2.00%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 10,224

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 24.72%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 41,360

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Coos

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 9,095

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 57.93%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 6,342

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 40.40%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 262

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.67%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,753

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 17.53%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 15,699

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Grafton

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 29,826

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 60.85%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 18,208

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 37.15%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 980

| {{party shading/Others}}| 2.00%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 11,618

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 23.70%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49,014

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Hillsborough

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 102,303

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49.74%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 99,991

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 48.62%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 3,373

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.64%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,312

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 1.12%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 205,667

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Merrimack

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 44,756

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 55.59%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 34,524

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 42.88%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1,234

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.53%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 10,232

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 12.71%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 80,514

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Republican}}| Rockingham

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 80,142

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 47.03%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 87,921

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 51.59%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 2,360

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.38%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -7,779

| {{party shading/Republican}}| -4.56%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 170,423

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Strafford

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 36,026

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 56.32%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 26,729

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 41.78%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1,214

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.90%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 9,297

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 14.54%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 63,969

style="text-align:center;"

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| Sullivan

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 12,166

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 55.71%

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 9,269

| {{party shading/Republican}}| 42.45%

| {{party shading/Others}}| 402

| {{party shading/Others}}| 1.84%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 2,897

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 13.26%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}| 21,837

Totals369,56151.98%329,91846.40%11,4931.62%39,6435.58%710,972

[[File:New Hampshire County Flips 2012.svg|thumb|County Flips: {{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Democratic

{{legend|#92c5de|Hold}}

{{col-2}}

Republican

{{legend|#ca0120|Gain from Democratic}}

{{col-end}}]]

;Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

==By congressional district==

Obama won both congressional districts.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2013/07/09/1220127/-Daily-Kos-Elections-2012-election-results-by-congressional-and-legislative-districts|title=Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts|website=Daily Kos|access-date=11 August 2020}}

class=wikitable

! District

! Obama

! Romney

! Representative

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|New Hampshire|1|1st}}

| 50.21%

| 48.6%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Carol Shea-Porter

align=center

! {{party shading/Democratic}}|{{ushr|New Hampshire|2|2nd}}

| 54.16%

| 44.51%

| {{party shading/Democratic}}|Ann McLane Kuster

align=center

See also

References

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}