Concord (US): New Hampshire will hold its first-in-the-nation US presidential primary on January 8, five days after Iowa s leadoff caucuses.

New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner announced the date yesterday, ending months of speculation, including the possibility that New Hampshire might push its primary into December in order to keep its traditional spot as first in the line of presidential primaries to be held across the US in 2008.

States across America have been vying to schedule their primaries earlier in an attempt to gain influence as the early contests play a critical role in winnowing the field of presidential candidates.

January 8 is the earliest ever for the primary, which often has shaped presidential contests -- sometimes dramatically -- for half a century. The date resulted from states around the country scheduling their own early primaries and caucuses to attract candidates before the major party nominees are chosen. As a result, both the Democratic and Republican nominees are likely to be effectively chosen by Feb 5,when 22 states vote, if not earlier.

Gardner set New Hampshire s date hours after Michigan s Supreme Court said that state s primary could go forward as scheduled on January 15,ending a court battle and keeping alive the state s bid to be one of the presidential campaign s first contests for selecting the final candidates for each party.

Source : PTI