It is hard to talk about New Hampshire without bringing up politics. Go on an admission's tour at any NH college, and the tour guide is bound to say “if you come here for four years, you’ll meet the next president of the United States.”There is truth in this, as the “first in the nation state,” politics is sport and it plays out over several months to a year in some cases. Candidates start off at cafés, house parties and street corners and end campaigns in large rallies covered by national and international media.In NH, you can meet all of the candidates and, as one person put it, “you can ask the second question.”The primaries have created a culture of campaigning that attracts politicos of all ages to NH, many of whom are just out of college and come from all over the country to experience the build-up to the primary. During the other three years when a primary is not around the corner, NH is still a political hotbed.

Check out the following links of interest and online networks:

• The official site for state government in NH is the NH General Court and is your starting point to learn more about NH politics at the state level.

• The official sites for the NH Democratic Party and Republican Party provide listings of events, volunteer opportunities, candidates, multimedia, and background information.

• The New Hampshire Political Report delivers New Hampshire political information to opinion leaders and provides an advertising platform for advertisers who want to reach this audience in a cost-efficient way.

• The NH Insider is a self described “multi-partisan website and blog edited and maintained by several political junkies.”

• Check out NH Political Capital  to hear analysis from Dean Spiliotes, a veteran political scientist and political analyst. He has broad expertise in presidential politics and policy, campaigns and elections, and New Hampshire politics and its presidential primary.

• The NH Institute of Politics and Political Library are a great resource for political junkies, with some great imagery from past NH primaries. Its mission is to increase civic engagement in the democratic process by promoting and preserving our unique political tradition and ensuring these traditions are passed on to future generations.

• The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, independent "think-tank" focused on state and local public policy issues that affect the quality of life for New Hampshire's citizens. The Center has as its core beliefs individual freedom and responsibility, limited and accountable government, and an appreciation of the role of the free enterprise system.

• The NH Center for Public Policy is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization that pursues data-based research on public policy matters, develops options, informs policy makers and advises them about choices for action. The Center’s mission is to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire’s future.

• The New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring, developing, and promoting public policies that foster economic opportunity and prosperity for all New Hampshire residents, with an emphasis on low- and moderate-income families and individuals.There are too many political NH Facebook groups to link to here, as nearly every community has one for each party. Instead, just do a search and type in NH politics, NH Democrats or NH Republicans.Factoid: The NH House of Representatives is the third largest elected body of government in the world. It is nearly voluntary, with the 400 members each being paid $100 a year to serve!