New Hampshire sets Jan. 8 primary date

CONCORD, N.H., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- New Hampshire elections officials ended a waiting game Wednesday, setting Jan. 8 as the date for the state's 2008 president primary.

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner set the date for one week ahead of Michigan's Jan. 15 primary to preserve the Granite State's status as the home of the first presidential primary in the nation, the Manchester (N.H.) Union Leader reported Wednesday.

The decision followed a ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court earlier in the day that Michigan could hold its primary Jan. 15.

New Hampshire law requires the state to hold its primary one week or more before any "similar election," the Union Leader said.

Jan. 8 will be the earliest date ever for a New Hampshire primary, The New York Times said.