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Take a look at the most recent TV ads from Congressman Bass & Annie Kuster, or check them out at a forum as I did in Nashua this morning, and you will see what I mean.
This past week, Annie traveled across the district to Concord, Keene, Hollis and Littleton. In each town, she invited Republican, Democratic, and Independent community leaders to join her at a diner, living room or coffee shop to sit down and talk through how we can get past party lines and work together to take on the big issues facing our country.
She sat down with two former Republican state senators, a Democratic Mayor, a Mitt Romney '08 steering committee member, two longtime members of the letter carriers and steelworkers unions, a current Democratic state senator, a Democratic Executive Councilor, a 20+ year Republican state representative who was voted out of her own party in a primary last year, a former Bass staffer, and more.
On a lot of issues, they found common ground across party lines, like standing up for a woman's right to choose - a traditional Democratic position and something Annie is passionate about. On some, they found common ground that isn't about party lines at all - like the concern that several people had about expanding the war in Afghanistan, or the shared interest in helping small businesses. Those aren't 'Democratic' or 'Republican' issues at all.
Sometimes the community leaders Annie brought together didn't agree with each other. Sometimes they didn't even agree with her. But everyone trusted that Annie is looking out for New Hampshire people first, not politics.
One of the things I like about Annie best is that she is a true people person. It's been a long campaign, and she's been working tremendously hard, but the truth is that when she spends her day with people - at a house party, at a diner, talking with volunteers or meeting with workers as we have been for 18 months - she leaves the event with more energy, not less. Because that's what drives her - wanting to help the people she grew up with all across this district.
Tomorrow, we'll announce "30 Diners in 30 Days" (maybe familiar to some of you who followed our house parties?). Annie will be traveling the district, from the Massachusetts border to the North Country, working hard for every vote. Always grounded here in the people of our district - as she always has been, and always will be.
Someone who is doing this to help people, not because of politics - that's that kind of Congresswoman I want.
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