Sanders' Independent Status Could Pose Issue in NH Primary

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has avoided traditional party labels for more than three decades in his pursuit of political office.

But as he seeks the presidency as a Democrat, that unwillingness to be pigeonholed could be a liability in the nation's first primary state. To get on the ballot in New Hampshire, candidates must fill out paperwork declaring themselves a registered member of the party they are running in.

Sanders serves in Congress as an independent.

Bill Gardner is New Hampshire's secretary of state. He says he doesn't know whether Sanders' long-held independent status could keep him off the ballot. Any formal challenge to Sanders' eligibility would likely go before the state's Ballot Law Commission.

One longtime New Hampshire Republican says the registration question is a problem for Sanders.

(Story by: Kathleen Ronayne, The Associated Press)