Buchanan First To File, Declaring He’s Primed

Patrick Buchanan was first in line Monday to file officially for New Hampshire’s primary, saying he is primed for the fight.

“We are enthusiastic. We are organized. We are ready to go. We are first in the gate,” he said after paying his $1,000 fee and signing his official declaration of candidacy for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination.

A Buchanan staffer ensured the conservative commentator would be first in line by showing up at 5 a.m. - three hours before the twoweek filing period began - to hold his place outside the Statehouse.

Later in the day, Republican Morry Taylor signed his candidacy declaration with a “smiley face” and said it’s time a businessman ran the country.

“I got in this because some of my employees said, ‘Hey, there’s no one here who is representing the working men and women of this country,”’ Taylor said. “Someone’s got to step up.”

Secretary of State William Gardner welcomed each candidate with a statement asking them to protect the 75-year tradition of the New Hampshire primary by boycotting Delaware’s.

Buchanan and Taylor agreed.

State law proclaims New Hampshire’s contest must be a week before any similar contest. Delaware’s primary now is scheduled four days after New Hampshire’s tentative date of Feb. 20.

Gardner expects this year’s field to be larger than the 62 candidates who entered last time.