I think NH is irrelevant to the election process at this point.
The real race will happen after we have the circus of Iowa and NH out of the way.
I don’t know that it is irrelevant. It gives momentum to a candidate and attracts a lot of media attention and that is an opportunity to get your message out. Also there is this tendency of Americans to vote for someone for no other reason than they are a perceived “winner”. I think, however, we can both agree, that in a sane world, it should be irrelevant.
The entire primary paradigm needs changed. It would be easy enough to do but the two-party system lacks the will. It’s like the College Bowl Series instead of a playoff every year. There are forces behind it we little guys will find difficult to overcome.