A postcard from the Lesser-Known Candidate Forum, a New Hampshire primary tradition

The Lesser-Known Candidate Forum featured 20 of the people who will be on the New Hampshire primary ballot, including (l to r) Donald Picard, Paperboy Love Prince, Richard Rist and Vermin Supreme. (Tamara Keith/NPR)

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Richard Rist is a business owner from Maryland, frustrated with how divided the nation has become. His solution: run for president. Because... why not?

On Thursday, Rist was part of what's called the Lesser-Known Candidate Forum, held by Saint Anselm College in Manchester every four years, a tradition that dates back to 1972 in the first-in-the-nation primary state.