On the trail: Is enthusiasm for first in the nation primary waning? A New Hampshire primary voter leaves a polling location at the North Hampton Town Hall on Jan. 27, 2004. AP Published: 2/26/2021 4:06:36 PM A new survey suggests that support among Granite Staters for New Hampshire’s century old tradition of holding the first primary in the presidential nominating calendar may be slipping. Sixty-three percent of state residents questioned in a new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll say that it’s very or somewhat important to them that the state hold on to its first-in-the-nation primary status. But that’s down from 81% in a July 2008 UNH poll.