Article: N.H. is a primary example for U.S. Its voters are 11-1 in picking president; Primary results New Hampshire presidential primary results since 1976, with percentages. Candidates in capital letters became the nominees. Figures may not add to 100 because of rounding: 1976 Democrats JIMMY CARTER 29 Morris Udall 23 Birch Bayh 15 Fred Harris 11 Sargent Shriver 8 Others 14 Republicans GERALD FORD 50 Ronald Reagan 49 Others 1 1980 Democrats JIMMY CARTER 47 Edward Kennedy 37 Edmund Brown Jr. 10 Others 6 Republicans RONALD REAGAN 50 George Bush 23 Howard Baker 13 John Anderson 10 Others 4 1084 Democrats Gary Hart 37 WALTER MONDALE 28 John Glenn 12 Jesse Jackson 5 George McGovern 5 Ronald Reagan (write-in) 5 Others 8 Republicans RONALD REAGAN 87 Gary Hart (write-in) 5 Others 8 1988 Democrats MICHAEL DUKAKIS 37 Richard Gephardt 21 Paul Simon 18 Jesse Jackson 8 Albert Gore Jr. 7 Others 9 Republicans GEORGE BUSH 38 Robert Dole 29 Jack Kemp 13 Pierre du Pont 10 Others 10 1992 Democrats Paul Tsongas 32 BILL CLINTON 24 Bob Kerrey 10 Tom Harkin 10 Jerry Brown 8 Other 13 Republicans GEORGE BUSH 51 Pat Buchanan 36 Others 11

It pushed a peanut farmer toward the White House in 1976, deflated Bob Dole's aspirations in 1988 and tested Bill Clinton's political survival skills in 1992.

For good or ill, New Hampshire's leadoff primary shapes presidential politics. It influences what issues come to the fore, winnows the field, forces candidates to meet real people, keeps pundits employed.

As they have for 44 years, New Hampshire voters on Tuesday will pass judgment on candidates who have been working for months, years in some cases, to prove their presidential potential.

Presidential politics are unavoidable here, this year even more so than usual.

Stick signs clutter any patch of ground or snowbank that will ...

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