WASHINGTON — Phil Hatcher and his wife moved to New Hampshire from the Midwest in 1986, and soon got a taste of what makes the state's first-in-the-nation primary so special to the people who live there.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson gave their young daughter a pat on the head at an event during his 1988 presidential campaign, before placing fourth in the state. During the 1992 presidential primary cycle, Hatcher attended his first house party, where former California Gov. Jerry Brown was the guest of honor.
"A friend of ours went to a Jerry Brown event and just walked up to him and said, 'I'd like to have you come to my house.' And he looked at her and said, 'Fine,'" said Hatcher, who is now co-chair of the Dover Democrats. "It was amazing to us."
