Fred Karger, Ron Paul File [VIDEO]

While the Granite State fights to keep control of its first-in-the-nation primary status, as other states leapfrog their primary and caucus dates earlier and earlier, the tradition of filing first in the continues, unblemished.

Chris Youse, a representative of the effort, was the first campaign to officially file to run in the Republican primary, right at 8 a.m. However, Republican businessman was the first candidate to file in person, offering a large ceremony $1,000 check and “Fred Who?” blue flying disc for William Gardner, the secretary.

For Karger, his 21st trip to the state, it was an emotional experience and a first of many firsts. He was the first to announce he was running for president this cycle, the first to create and broadcast an advertisement, the first to campaign in New Hampshire, and the first to file with the Federal Election Commission.

Karger also is the first openly gay man to seek a major political party nomination.

“It’s very significant, it’s been an emotional ride for me,” he said. “It’s been quite a journey to get to this position.”

Gardner said the beauty of the New Hampshire primary is that “everyone has a chance” to compete.

“The voters decide,” he said. “Most states you have to be selected to be on the ballot. You can’t just choose. Even if you’re the mayor of a big city, you can’t get on the ballot.”

Karger and Gardner talked a lot about history, with Gardner showing him pictures of candidates past that adorn the secretary’s office. They talked a bit about California Gov. Jerry Brown’s campaigns and how in 1975, then-Gov. Jimmy Carter of Georgia, was able to dominate the process by staying overnight in people’s homes.

Gardner also pulled out a 1968 post-New Hampshire Primary story from TIME magazine, the last time the primary was held in the middle of March and said it was a lot like 2012. Then President Lyndon Johnson was a popular figure until the Vietnam conflict spun out of control and Eugene McCarthy stung the incumbent with a powerful showing in the Democratic primary that year, leading to Johnson dropping out of the presidential race. At the same time, Gardner noted, the Republicans were tearing each other apart, with a clear frontrunner that not everyone liked, in former Vice President Richard Nixon, who later went on to win.

It is unknown if a Democrat will come forward and launch a campaign against . According to Gardner, 1992 was the busiest year for candidates, with more than 60 filing to run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman filed at 2 p.m. on Oct. 17. Former La. Gov. Buddy Roemer will file at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to file for President Barack Obama at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20.

Karger signed a filing ballot for Gardner and wrote, “Equality for all!”

“This has been a very emotional experience, the last 21 months, since I first came here in February 2010,” Karger said. “I’m running for the dream of every American. I was one of those kids that was told by his family that he could grow up to be president of the United States.”

The filing time period ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. The cost is $1,000.