Steve Merrill Might Run, Depending on the Sprinter

Steve Merrill? (0.00 / 0)

Steve Merrill.  Steve Merrill.  Ummm, the name sounds familiar.  Can someone please remind me of something he's done so I can remember who he is?    

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 20:04:27 PM CST

He beat the hell out of two democrats in governors races in 1992 and 1994. (0.00 / 0)

I would hesitate to underestimate a person who was re-elected governor by a 70% to 26% margin. Those are Lynchian numbers. The state has of course changed a bit since then but we would do well to remember that he is a skilled campaigner.


"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 21:30:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Keep in mind... (0.00 / 0)

Our 1992 nominee's platform was to establish an income tax.

Our 1994 nominee's platform was to establish a statewide property tax.

Both of our nominees were significantly out spent.

The changes in NH since then are significant. The demographic changes, the manner in which we obtain information, the change in the strength of the party grassroots organizations and so much more.

Merrill is best known for his cheerful smile and lack of action or results.

Doing my best to elect NH Democrats since 1968 and getting better at it every year!

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 07:09:52 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Also known for (4.00 / 2)

his really creepy portrait at the State House

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by: sdoyle @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 11:12:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

What is with the dome? (4.00 / 1)

Why is the state house dome balanced on Merrill's head?

"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 @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 11:36:51 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Aahhhhhh! (0.00 / 0)

It really is about the oddest portrait I have ever seen.

Doing my best to elect NH Democrats since 1968 and getting better at it every year!

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by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 11:37:46 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Good Points (0.00 / 0)

And as I say often, I wouldn't underestimate any Republican in 2010, an off-year election when we won't have Barack Obama on the ballot.  But people still want accomplishments and ideas.  Fortunately for Democrats, our candidates tend to talk about those.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 21:47:24 PM CST

Demographically speaking... (0.00 / 0)

the New Hampshire he governed no longer exists. In last seven races for governor (i.e. since he left) a Democrat has won six of them. And Democrats have won the last 5 races for the federal legislature, each one initially beating a moderate and scandal-free Republican, like Merrill. Finally, Clinton won NH twice, Kerry and Obama each once and the combined Gore+Nader vote was higher than GWB in 2000.

Also, about a quarter of the state has never seen his name a ballot, including me.  I guess I'm comfortable under (or maybe accurately?) estimating him.  

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by: measurestaken @ Fri Feb 13, 2009 at 23:38:32 PM CST

all true, but (0.00 / 0)

several of the gop governor candidates were hopeless fodder or clueless. Steve Merrill is neither. Ultimately his problem will be issues, which lean democratic more and more.

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 06:41:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

sounds familiar (0.00 / 0)

The Veterans Tap Dance Administration brings you forward into the past.  

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by: susanthe @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 00:16:03 AM CST

The real story here may be (4.00 / 1)

that Merrill makes his decision dependent on Sununu - and not on Gregg making a final decision.

"Probably" doesn't cut it. Gregg has announced his retirement and has become a lame duck.

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by: elwood @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 10:06:11 AM CST

Benson's the best bet (0.00 / 0)

On first blush this will sound crazy, but if a former NH governor was to run for US Senator, then the most plausible candidate is Craig Benson.

Mind you, I'm not saying I want him to run, that he should run or that he wants to run, but as the NH GOP's nominee, Benson would bring some strong credentials to a US Senate race:

* Self-funding - or at least the ability to do so, which the NH GOP could really use right now.

* Name ID - only 4 years ago he was governor, and it wasn't like he got whupped in '04 - at all actually. How many NH voters under 35 or who have moved to the state in the last 10 years have even heard of Steve Merrill?

* Conservatism - the same right-wing policies of the red meat variety that made him a terrible governor also seem to stoke the current GOP base which doesn't want bipartisan cooperation of any kind (and their patron saint, Saint Judd the Dudd).

Yes, the state's changed even in just 4 years and Young Johnny has the GOP nomination if he so chooses. And of course, a Benson candidacy may be implausible unless he issues a mea culpa, saying he's learned from his mistakes 4 years ago, but assuming those conditions were to occur, the NH GOP's best bet for US Senate imho is Craig Benson.

President, NH Young Democrats

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by: Garth Corriveau @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 11:00:33 AM CST

Craig Benson vs. Any Democrat (0.00 / 0)

...I'd take that!  We would have fun.  And we'd win.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 19:44:40 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Good old Dad (0.00 / 0)

My father also used to call Steve Merrill "Smiling Steve Merrill", but he usually prefaced it with "that big phoney."

I still remember listening to him tell a young pro-choice voter, during his first campaign, "Listen to what I say - I support an exception for the HEALTH of the mother as determined by the woman and her doctor."  Wink, wink, nod, nod. Not quite was he telling the anti-choice voters, I am sure.

Dad was right.

"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 @ Sat Feb 14, 2009 at 11:43:43 AM CST