New Hampshire primaries past

Many, many presidential hopefuls have made their way to New Hampshire through the years. The state has often had an independent streak, not always supporting the front runners. A win in New Hampshire can cement a winner or give momentum to a lower-tier candidate. Here's a look back at the campaign trail in years' past.

In this photo, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., stands next to a stuffed moose that was presented to him during a breakfast at Keene State College in Keene, N.H., Saturday, June 10, 1995.

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson stands with his daughter Jackie as they campaign from the back of a caboose in Plymouth, N.H., Feb. 14, 1988 ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

Pat Buchanan

Republican presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan, right, and his wife Shelley, center, are driven through the woods on a horse drawn sleigh by Tyke Frost, left, New Year's Day Monday, Jan. 1, 1996, in Deerfield, N.H.

"Lobsterman"

With his campaign manager George Cleveland at his side, Jeff "Lobsterman" Costa announces his candidacy for president April 2, 1999, in Concord, N.H. Costa said he would pay the filing fee and do whatever is needed to get his name on the New Hampshire ballot for the next year's presidential primary.

Al Gore

Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, wave to supporters in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday night, Feb. 1, 2000, after claiming victory in the New Hampshire Primary.

Richard Nixon

Former Vice President Richard Nixon waves to crowd as he arrives at a Manchester hotel Feb. 3, 1968, on the first stop of his campaign in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary election.

George McGovern

Presidential aspirant Sen. George McGovern, (D-S.D), addresses the Hillsboro County annual Democratic outing on Sunday, August 9, 1971 in Hollis, New Hampshire.

McGovern told the gathering that his fellow aspirants should drop their signs of pretense and flatly announce their candidacy for President. New Hampshire's was scheduled for March 7, 1972.

Robert Dole

Sen. Robert Dole, left, took his campaign to the air waves as he took part in a question and answer session during a local radio show, Monday, Feb. 11, 1980, Concord, N.H.

Edward Kennedy

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy talks to supporters on Feb. 26, 1980 in Manchester, N.H., after President Jimmy Carter took a substantial lead in the New Hampshire presidential primary. At right is his wife Joan, and daughter Kara.

Wesley Clark

Restaurant patrons Mary Fosher, right, Gretchen Stewart, second right, obscured, and Michelle Cunha, third right, comment on Democratic presidential hopeful Wesley Clark's New Hampshire-patterned necktie during his impromptu campaign stop at the Canoe Club restaurant in Hanover, N.H., Jan. 25, 2004. The New Hampshire primary was set for January 27.

John Edwards

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., gives a thumbs up from his campaign bus after greeting supporters outside the Parker-Varney Elementary School, in Manchester, N.H., Jan. 27, 2004. The school was a polling place in the New Hampshire Primary.

Edmund Muskie

Sen. Edmund Muskie, D-Maine, denounces conservative Manchester Union Leader publisher William Loeb in front of the newspaper's Manchester, N.H., building, Feb. 26, 1972.

Muskie's emotional speech came as he campaigned for the New Hampshire primary and the Democratic presidential nomination, which slid off the tracks after it was reported that he had cried in response to the newspaper's attack on his wife. Muskie maintained until his death that it had been melted snowflakes, not a tear, in his eye all along.

Ronald Reagan

GOP presidential hopeful Ronald Reagan got a surprise Valentine's Day greeting from employees of the Merrimack Hilton in Merrimack, New Hampshire on Feb. 14, 1980, while campaigning in the southern New Hampshire community for the state's February 26 primary.

Pat Robertson

Pat Robertson, a former Golden Gloves champion, puts on the gloves at Sampson's Gym, Feb. 15, 1988 in Manchester, N.H., for a couple of rounds with Mike Sampson.

The Republican presidential hopeful went the distance and called the fight a draw.

George Romney

Michigan Gov. George Romney gets ready to bite into a submarine sandwich at Concord, N.H., during a luncheon stop in his campaign tour of the Granite State, Feb. 22, 1968.

John Glenn

Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, center, and his wife, Annie Glenn, right, greet supporters at Glenns campaign headquarters, Feb. 5, 1984, Keene, N.H.

John Kennedy

Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts accompanied by his wife, Jacqueline, stops to shake hands with admirer on Jan. 25, 1960 in Nashua as he paraded length of Maine street in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Enthusiastic crowds were out to greet the young Senator. The New Hampshire primary was to be held on March 8th.