Jon Huntsman stumps in Nashua. The Ricks (Perry and Santorum) pick up endorsements. The stars may align for a presidential hopeful. Occupy the New Hampshire Primary is evolving into equal parts demonstration, lecture, and street performance. Well, all the state is a stage.

Welcome to Primary Countdown for Monday, Jan. 2, 2012–eight days until the New Hampshire Primary.

Quote of the Day: "I don't think Iowa's going to have much influence on New Hampshire either way, truthfully. I think they probably don't like to hear it, but that's the reality." – U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, in this AP story on what Iowa means for New Hampshire's lead-off primary.

Occupy the New Hampshire Primary: The Wall Street protests have cropped up in New Hampshire, but in a much quieter way than in other states. Could that change with the Primary protests? The Occupy schedule shows a busy weekend, starting Friday in Manchester with music and entertainment and a teach-in called, "Bird-Dogging Political Candidates," led by activists Arnie Alpert and Olivia Zink. There is a "funeral procession for the American Dream" scheduled to be at Saint Anselm College during Saturday's debate. Other catchy lecture titles include:

• Come to Witness our "Marriage to a Corporation" and "How to Build a Strong Movement."

Finally, 2012: Finally, the primary season begins in earnest.

Totally Cosmic: Could NH Primary win be written in the stars? A local astrologer reports that Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have good looking charts for Jan. 10, 2012 – aka Primary Day.

Momentorum in NH: Rick Santorum announced additional legislative endorsements today. Rep. Jerry Bergiven, R-Manchester, Rep. William Condra, R-Wilton, Rep. Charlie Moore, R-Jaffrey, Rep. Stephen Palmer, R-Milford, and Rep. Steven Smith, R-Charlestown. Bergiven formerly supported Ron Paul, while Smith had supported Herman Cain, according to Santorum's campaign. Santorum now has 23 legislative endorsements and the "Sheriff of Governor Mitt Romney's home county."

Radio Host for Perry: Former state representative and conservative radio host Niel Young is endorsing Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Steve Forbes won him over in talk of the Fed. "Governor Perry understands that Congress and the Fed need to stop weakening our dollar with overprinting and overspending," Young said in a press release. "Governor Perry has an actual record of successful executive leadership and is a Washington outsider which gives me the confidence that he will go there and get this done."

From the Patch Video Vault: Ron Paul talks tariffs and taxes during a segment of Primary Patch at The Draft in Concord in November. 

College Convention 2012: The convention runs Tuesday through Friday at the Grappone Center in Concord. Sponsored by New England College, the event will give more than 400 students from 27 states an immersion into the first-in-the-nation primary. Several presidential candidates will speak to the students. Patch is a media sponsor. We'll have updates throughout the week.

Around the Horn:

• Gingrich, Bachmann, Huntsman and Santorum join Perry in Virginia ballot challenge. 
• Huntsman: Romney offers 'status quo' – A report from Concord NH Patch.
• Huntsman adviser calls for aggressive South Carolina push. 

Guns on Campus: Gov. John Lynch will join police and education officials at a Statehouse news conference Tuesday to urge the House to reject a bill that "would allow guns in classrooms, dorms and public arenas." The legislation in question is House Bill 334. 

New Year, New Session: The New Hampshire House is back in session Wednesday.

Primary tips or quips? Email dan.tuohy@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter and follow Primary Patch on Twitter.