CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Secretary of State William Gardner said Friday that his announcement of a New Hampshire primary date depends on the maneuverings of Michigan, which he believes still may move its Jan. 15 vote.

"It's all Michigan," Gardner said on Friday evening, at the close of New Hampshire's three-week filing period — the eighth of his tenure — for candidates to get on the primary ballot. He previously said Friday would be the earliest a date could be announced.

Gardner has indicated the primary will happen no later than Jan. 8, based on the Jan. 15 date for Michigan's primary.

Concerned that date could shift, Gardner said he will be paying close attention to a meeting of Michigan Democrats on Nov. 7 to discuss early voting issues like whether to hold a primary or a caucus. Michigan Democrats have until Nov. 14 to make a decision.

Gardner said he preferred acting sooner rather than later.

"I'm not going to wait until the 14th unless I have to," he said.

"I'm going to set a date as early as I can, so long as I know when I set it that our tradition is going to be preserved," he said.

Under New Hampshire law, the primary must be scheduled for seven days before any similar contest and only Gardner has the power to pick a date.

Under pressure from Michigan, Florida, Nevada and South Carolina and other states moving earlier to increase their say in the nominating process, Gardner's office on Friday wrapped up the earliest New Hampshire primary filing period in memory. Political watchers have debated whether the front-loaded primaries and caucuses would increase or diminish New Hampshire's influence.

"There's no doubt in my mind that this primary's going to be relevant, no doubt whatsoever and this is going to be a great primary," Gardner said.

He noted the quantity of candidates who filed — 21 Republicans and 23 Democrats — is the largest since 1992.

To a person, Gardner added, candidates filing at his office urged him to protect the New Hampshire primary, where retail politics is highly valued.

Candidates used "different words, but it had the same meaning. It was, 'Stand up,' 'Protect this,' 'Do what you have to, we're with you.' — It was all the same theme, that this is something important," Gardner said.