1972 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

1972 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary

March 7, 1972 (1972-03-07)

Candidate Richard Nixon Pete McCloskey John M. Ashbrook Home state California California Ohio Popular vote 79,239 23,180 11,362 Percentage 67.6% 19.8% 9.7%

Margin by county Nixon:      50–60%      60–70% Winner by municipality   Nixon   McCloskey   No vote

Main article: 1972 Republican Party presidential primaries

The 1972 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary was held on March 7, 1972, in New Hampshire as one of the Republican Party's statewide nomination contests ahead of the 1972 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Richard Nixon faced his first major test in New Hampshire against two minor challengers: liberal anti-Vietnam war candidate Pete McCloskey of California and conservative John Ashbrook of Ohio, who opposed Nixon's détente policies towards China and the Soviet Union. Nixon won the Granite State in a landslide, resulting in the withdrawal of McCloskey from the primaries (he promised to do so if he failed to reach >20% of the vote) and a clear path for the incumbent president to receive the Republican nomination.

Results

1972 Republican Party primary in New Hampshire

Candidate		Votes	%
Richard M. Nixon (incumbent)		79,239	67.6
Paul N. McCloskey		23,190	19.8
John M. Ashbrook		11,362	9.7
Others		3,417	2.9
Total votes		117,208	100.0