Gardner: It's Jan. 8

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner today announced that the Granite State's first-in-the-nation primary will take place on Jan. 8, the earliest date ever for a primary ballot in a presidential election year.

The much anticipated announcement came a few hours after the Michigan Supreme Court said that state's Jan. 15 primary can go ahead. Michigan is among many states bringing forward their primaries in the 2008 presidential race with the goal of having more influence.

With the Iowa caucuses set to take place on Jan. 3, the New Hampshire primary will now occur just five days later, compressing the primary schedule to an unprecedented extent. Campaigns are struggling to work out their travel plans and advertising strategies to adjust to the rapidly changing primary schedule.

Under New Hampshire law, the state's primary must take place at least a week before any other state's primary ballot.