Cashman: First-in-nation primary, first in cachet for GOP

Republican presidential hopefuls shouldn’t waste much time in the cornfields of Iowa if they want to become the eventual party nominee.

New Hampshire — the first-in-the-nation primary — has the track record of choosing winners and catapulting campaigns. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney walked away with a win in the Granite State in 2012 and U.S. Sen. John McCain was the victor in 2008. Both became the party’s nominee.

If history has shown us anything, Iowans tend to choose too conservative of a candidate who loses momentum once they head east. (Just ask Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.)

Yesterday, former New York Gov. George Pataki announced he was exploring a 2016 presidential bid and launched a PAC. Hours later he called into our “Morning Meeting” show where he went on the offensive.

The three-term governor told the Herald he will be in New Hampshire today and tomorrow conducting town hall meetings and talking with voters. He will visit Keene State College and St. Anselm College. Pataki told me he won’t be heading west to Iowa for about a month, when he will attend an agriculture conference.

Pataki’s decision to make a New Hampshire visit such a priority speaks volumes about where candidates feel they need to best invest their time. While meeting voters, Pataki said he plans on talking about his executive experience, track record as governor of New York and the real international threats from terrorists.

If liberal darling and Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren decides to run for president, Pataki said on Herald Radio it would be another inexperienced lawmaker running our country.

“First of all, her philosophy is way to the left of me and way to the left of the American people. And it’s not what we need more of,” he said of Warren. “I don’t think someone who has never had a day’s experience running something can be expected to run the government of this country very well.”

Speaking of Massachusetts lawmakers, Pataki also said his decision and timing had nothing to do with Romney’s announcement on Friday to stay out of the race.

The time, he added, was right and he’s heading north as the GOP race has now become a wide-open contest.

Jaclyn Cashman is co-host of the “Morning Meeting” show on Boston Herald Radio.