Disappointed

Jindal and Huckabee are in Iowa... (0.00 / 0)

...because they know they can't win in New Hampshire.

11%

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 09:41:13 AM CST

Don't want to be a wet blanket, but (0.00 / 0)

I think your primary might be toast.

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by: JimC @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 10:01:03 AM CST

Don't bet on it. (0.00 / 0)

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:09:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't (0.00 / 0)

I can't prove it either, it's just a gut.

But, we only hold these things every your years (every two, really), so heads may cool off and New Hampshire may prevail.

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by: JimC @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 12:30:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I think it's stronger than four years ago (4.00 / 3)

1. New Hampshire Dems now have three voices in Washington with ties to the leading  power centers in the part - Hodes and Shea-Porter having endorsed Obama, Shaheen's husband having worked for Clinton
2. John Lynch's scrupulous role as a host who played no favorites reassured candidates and campaigns in both parties that we offer a level playing field.
3. The loudest opponent of the NH primary - John Dingell - was just stripped of his committee chairmanship. His influence is declining.
4. Was NH a setback or a useful shakedown cruise for Obama? I think the latter. But what does Obama think? The choice of Unity New Hampshire for a unity event suggests he thinks so too.
5. There will be no clear frontrunner for the GOP in 2012. Potential candidates will appreciate the (relatively) low cost opportunity to build momentum here.
6. The same will hold true for Dems in 2016.

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by: elwood @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 15:35:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Not sure (0.00 / 0)

1. None of them are really powerful enough, as of now, to stop an anti-NH movement, if one emerges.

2. True.

3. Levin remains, and his influence may grow, since Granholm seems to be close to the president-elect.

4. I think he thought you were one of the few true swing states, you had three competitive races, and you a town called Unity where he and HRC got the exact same number of votes. What other place could offer all that? No relevance to the primary.

5. This argument may carry the day.

6. Not if HRC runs again.

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by: JimC @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 15:54:22 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Back atcha (4.00 / 1)

1. Well, of course not. But that wasn't my point. Four years ago a John Dingell could describe the terrible strength of New Hampshire and say, "But don't take my word for it! Ask a Democratic New Hampshire Congressman. Oh, that's right! There aren't any. That backwater state can't find a good local Democrat to send here, and we let them act as the first screen for our Presidential field!" I don't know that he said that (but I would have, in his shoes.)

3. Was Granholm as active in the 'stiff NH' movement as Dingell and Levin? Perhaps, behind the scene. I just don't know.

4. If Obama had been nursing a resentment of New Hampshire's role, Unity would not have happened.

6. It's hard for me to see how Clinton - or anyone else - can be the Democratic frontrunner in 2016. Unless Biden were replaced as Veep, the nomination would be wide open. (And yes, this is so premature it's laughable.)

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by: elwood @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 18:01:52 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Republicans..... (4.00 / 3)

One area where Fergus Cullen hasn't gotten enough credit is the primary calendar adopted at the Republican convention. It keeps NH as the first primary.  Since the only action in 2012 (unless something really weird happens) is going to be on the Republican side, that makes a big difference.


"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 21:18:03 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Cullen has, of course, been on the right side of this issue. (4.00 / 1)

But the Republican Party has not.

The DNC respected New Hampshire's right to maintain order such that a precedent is not set for other states to leapfrog one another and us, causing chaos in the calendar and a campaign that would have to start on Inauguration Day.  The RNC penalized New Hampshire for doing that.  The issue should not be forgotten in the 2012 campaign.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Sun Dec 28, 2008 at 00:00:20 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Truly? (0.00 / 0)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=itth3V1Z4BM

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by: JimC @ Fri Dec 26, 2008 at 13:49:57 PM CST