Advertisement NH Primary Source: Another ‘blue wave’ of presidential candidates headed to NH Democratic hopefuls flocking to first-primary state in droves

New Hampshire Primary Source gives you breaking and behind-the-scenes news and analysis on all things political in the Granite State. John DiStaso is the most experienced political writer in the state and has been writing a weekly column since 1982.To sign up for WMUR's weekly New Hampshire Primary Source and political email newsletter, click here.FLOODGATES OPEN. From Joe Biden to John Delaney, from Cory Booker to Beto O’Rourke, from Michael Bennet to Kamala Harris, candidates will be crowding back into New Hampshire over the coming days.For some candidates, the visits follow their rollouts during the past few weeks of plans on addressing issues that include gun violence, the opioid crisis, teacher pay and climate change.The upcoming flurry of visitors continues to invalidate the national narrative that New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary is losing its importance.Beginning today, eight candidates will be in the state over the course of the next seven days. Five of them will be in the state on Saturday alone.Former U.S. Reps. Beto O’Rourke and John Delaney and entrepreneur Andrew Yang will begin busy three-day swings in the state today. John DelaneyDelaney will attend a meet and greet at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton at 3 p.m. and then stop at the Tilt’n Diner at 4 p.m. He’ll head to Somersworth for a 7 p.m. meet and greet at Teatotaller Café.Delaney on Friday at 8 a.m. will meet over breakfast with students at St. Paul’s School in Concord and then attend a roundtable on PFAS at 9:30 a.m. at the Merrimack Town Hall.He will lead a roundtable with state entrepreneurs, small business owners and entrepreneurial advisors at 12 p.m. at WBC Office Suites, 1087 Elm St., Manchester. At 3:30 p.m., will attend a roundtable on paid family and medical leave, hosted by the activist group Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, at The Bookery, 844 Elm St., Manchester. Delaney at 5:30 p.m. Friday will attend a house party with Hudson and Pelham Democrats at the home of Heather Forde, 7 Heritage Road, Pelham. A meet and greet with Hollis Democrats at the Hollis Town Hall community room, 7 Monument Square, is scheduled for 7 p.m.On Saturday, Delaney will attend a “Pancakes for Progress” event with the Hampton Democrats at the Hobbs House Help Center, 200 High St., at 8:30 a.m., followed by a house party at the home of Gerri and Ron King, 10 Pine St., Concord, at 11:30 a.m.A Franklin house party at the home of Suzi and Ron White, 62A Elm Ave., will begin at 1:30 p.m., and Delaney will wrap up the visit with a meet and greet with the Londonderry and Southern Tier Democrats at the Rockingham County regional Democratic office, 2 Litchfield Road, Londonderry, at 4 p.m.Andrew YangYang will visit the Dartmouth Democrats for a meet and greet at Dartmouth Beta, Webster Ave., Hanover at 5:30 p.m. today and then head to Lebanon for a 7 p.m. meet and greet with Upper Valley Democrats at a gazebo near the Carter Community Building Association’s Witherell Recreation Center, 1 Taylor St..On Friday, Yang will begin with a meet and greet at Revelstoke Coffee, 100 North Main St., Concord, at 11:30 a.m. At 1:15 p.m., he will participate in a by-invitation-only roundtable with state Rep. Matt Wilhelm at City Year New Hampshire, 848 Elm St., Manchester.At 7 p.m., he will attend a meet and greet with Portsmouth area Democrats at the Portsmouth Gas Light Co., 64 Market St.Yang will return to the Upper Valley early Saturday for a meet and greet with Sullivan County Democrats at the Sugar Valley Regional Technical Center, 111 South St., Claremont, at 9 a.m. He will then head back to southern New Hampshire for a town hall event focusing on his universal basic income plan at 12 p.m. at the Lawrence Barn Community Center, 28 Depot Road, Hollis. At 3 p.m., Yang will hold a town hall with the Windham, Pelham and Salem Democratic committees at the Searles School and Chapel, 3 Chapel Road, Windham. And at 6:30 p.m., he will hold a meet and greet at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 20 Elm St., Milford.Beto O’RourkeO’Rourke will attend invitation-only house parties in Salem tonight, in Hooksett on Friday morning, in Lebanon on Friday evening and in Bedford Saturday morning.O’Rourke will also hold four open town hall events. They will be at the Susan Colgate Cleveland Library on the campus of Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main St., New London, on Friday at 12 p.m.; the Top of the Hop at Dartmouth College, 4 Wheelock St., Hanover, on Friday at 3:30 p.m.; the Exeter Town Commons, Court Street, on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; and Thompson’s 2nd Alarm pub, 421 Central Ave., Dover on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.Kirsten GillibrandThe New York senator will begin two days of campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday with events in Manchester, Goffstown, Derry, Hampton and Warner and will deliver the commencement address at New England College in Henniker on Saturday.Our full report on Gillibrand’s visit, published on Tuesday, can be viewed here.Cory BookerNew Jersey Sen. Cory Booker will join Gillibrand, Delaney, O’Rourke and Yang in New Hampshire on Saturday.His first stop will be a 6 p.m. house party at the Keene home of Allen and Ellen Mendelson, 53 Knoll Ave.On Sunday, Booker will deliver the commencement address to Southern New Hampshire University online graduates and then head to Laconia for a meet and greet at 1 p.m. at the Soda Shoppe, 30 Beacon St.Booker will hold a “Conversation with Cory” event at the Berlin City Hall at 4 p.m. and attend a meet and greet at Schilling Beer Co. in Littleton at 7:30 p.m.Another “Conversation with Cory” will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Green Street Community Center, 39 Green St., Concord.Michael BennetThe Colorado senator on Sunday will make his first visit to the state since announcing his candidacy a week ago. He will participate in a roundtable discussion hosted by New Hampshire AmeriCorps alumni at 5:30 p.m. at The Friendly Toast, 125 S. River Road, Bedford.Bennett will then attend a house party at the home of David and Karen Van Der Beken, 18 Old Evergreen Road in Bedford at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Joe BidenThe former vice president arrives in New Hampshire on Monday to begin his first campaign swing since he announced his candidacy two weeks ago. Biden will also campaign in the state on Tuesday.His schedule has yet to be announced.Kamala HarrisWe reported Wednesday that the California senator will make her third visit to the state next Wednesday for a town hall event at the Nashua regional headquarters of the nonprofit Girls, Inc. View our report here.ADDING STAFF. Sen. Cory Booker’s New Hampshire campaign continues to expand. Click here.WARREN’S 10TH NH VISIT. After eight candidates pass through the state during the next week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren will return for her 10th New Hampshire visit during the weekend of May 18-19. Click here.HARRIS ORGANIZING EFFORT. Granite Staters interested in organizing support for Sen. Kamala Harris can apply for paid positions in the campaign. Click here.MAKING HISTORY. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign made history on Wednesday by ratifying a contract with some of its workers, who unionized in March. Click here. WHITE HOUSE INVITATION. New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Steve Stepanek will be in Washington today – at the White House, in fact. Click here.(John DiStaso can be reached at jdistaso@hearst.com or distasoj@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jdistaso and on Facebook: Facebook.com/JohnDiStasoWMUR.)