Among Democrats, Iowa chose U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt, New Hampshire Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. In 1992, neither New Hampshire winner won election. Vice President George Bush and former senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts won New Hampshire. Tsongas continued to win eastern support but lost to Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, the runner-up in New Hampshire. When Clinton defeated President Bush, he ended the primary's string of 10 consecutive presidential winners.
Regionalism plays a role in the non-incumbent contests.
During these same eight non-incumbent contests, regionalism has played a role in the New Hampshire primary, but a lesser one. Massachusetts-born winners in New Hampshire include George Bush in 1988, Michael Dukakis in 1988, and Paul Tsongas in 1992. Adding Maine's Ed Muskie, the 1972 winner and Pat Buchanan, the 1996 winner, to the tally gives northeasterners five non-incumbent New Hampshire wins. But New England provincialism did not help George Bush in 1980 nor did it save Senator Ted Kennedy from suffering a defeat in the 1980 New Hampshire primary. Ted Kennedy learned the hard way that regionalism has limited benefits for New Hampshire challengers to incumbent presidents.