Presidential Hopefuls Already Vying in New Hampshire

Howard H. Baker Jr. wanted to wait another year before hitting the campaign trail, but then some people got the idea he must not really be interested in running for President in 1988.

After all, New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary is coming up in just two years and four months.

“It’s ridiculous to be starting this early. We’re all going to be exhausted and broke before we’re halfway through President Reagan’s second term,” said David Spear, the former Senate majority leader’s press secretary.

“But the other probable candidates have already begun, and there was speculation that Sen. Baker, because he wasn’t doing anything this early, wasn’t interested in running. So we’re going ahead.”

Presidential contenders are painfully aware that, since New Hampshire began holding its primary in 1952, no one has lost it and gone on to be elected President that year.

And so they come to New Hamphire years before the primary, which is usually held in the February of leap year. At least the Republicans do; Democratic hopefuls have managed to stay away this year.

Former Delaware Gov. Pierre du Pont IV dropped in. Kansas Sen. Bob Dole visited Nashua in June. Vice President George Bush attended the Fourth of July Parade in Bristol. New York Rep. Jack Kemp on Friday made his fourth appearance in the state this year to speak at a luncheon of the New Hampshire Reserve Officers Assn.

In three days, Baker gave three lectures at the University of New Hampshire and appeared at a Republican fund-raiser, a party picnic and a testimonial dinner for former Gov. Walter Peterson.

Baker said he was here to help the state’s two Republican House members, not to campaign for the presidency, but he admitted the competition compels him to start presidential politicking.

“You have no choice but to do that,” the Tennessee Republican said.

Roger Stone, a political consultant and sometime adviser to Kemp, said one reason the race is starting early is that in 1988, for the first time since 1960, neither party will have an incumbent and both nominations will be “wide open.”

“History indicates that New Hampshire is a President-maker and a President-breaker,” Stone said. “It can unhorse front-runners and it can make dark horses into front-runners. When the stakes are that high, a candidate has to begin early to protect his interest.”

The nation is experiencing “the phenomenon of the permanent campaign,” said John Buckley, an aide to Kemp.

“Because of the enormous expense of campaigning and because of the fact that you have to raise money to have your ideas expressed through television, it’s a fact of life that campaigns begin earlier than eight or 10 years ago,” Buckley said.