Weather, excitement likely to drive turnout

MANCHESTER, N.H. — It certainly does not feel like primary day in New Hampshire. With near-60 degree weather — and an electorate that has grown increasingly excited in the past few days — state officials are predicting a record voter turnout here Tuesday.

In Iowa last week, cold weather and an arcane caucus system could not stymie what became a record turnout, and the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office is predicting the same for the first-in-the-nation primary state.

But the weather is not the only factor behind the predicted 500,000-strong voter turnout. Democratic candidates especially have seen record crowds in the last few days, with local fire marshals repeatedly closing the doors on hundreds of would-be observers.

As per usual on primary day, there is a real sense of tedium here. While many of the candidates are visiting polling locations, everybody seems to be in a hurry-up-and-wait mood, and anticipating the closing of the polls tonight.