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NH-02 Straw Poll

by: Mike Hoefer

Tue Mar 03, 2009 at 06:00:00 AM EST


With the cold winds of hopefully the final(?) winter storm swirling around us, it's easy to forget how hot things will become with the NH-02 Race.

Paul Hodes has announced his intention to run for AWOL Gregg, "The Pork Profiteer's", Senate seat leaving the the NH-02 seat up for grabs.

This seat is ripe for a great Democratic Primary. In recent Presidential Primaries NH-02 has shown a slight preference for candidates such as Howard Dean and Barack Obama. Tapping in to that style of leadership and running that sort of a campaign may give newcomers a real shot. NH-02 is a couple of points in the D's favor out of the gate, so no need to be a centrist for centrism's sake.

It's time for the first Blue Hampshire Straw Poll on this race. Nascent campaigns hit your email list and post on your Facebook wall, let your supporters know that they should freep this poll!

This Poll contains names thrown around here that have not otherwise removed themselves from contention. Of course outcomes of this poll are not scientific as they only reflect the views of Blue Hampshire readers who choose to participate. Participation is free and easy (kinda like Sunday Morning) but you do need to be a registered user to play. Accounts in the upper 1800's are now available, get yours today.  

Mike Hoefer :: NH-02 Straw Poll
Poll
Who would you support as the 2010 Democratic Nominee for NH-02?
Atkins, Michael
DeJoie, John
Hirshberg, Gary
Kelly, Molly
Larsen, Sylvia
McLane Kuster, Ann
Merrick, Scott
Pignatelli, Debora
Swett, Katrina

Results

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NH-02 Straw Poll | 31 comments
Jay Buckey? (0.00 / 0)
Has Jay Buckey removed himself from running?

Go 'Bama!

Good Point (0.00 / 0)
I don't think he has, and Jay impressed a lot of us during his aborted Senate run last year.

[ Parent ]
Missing Link (0.00 / 0)
He said no to the Senate race. Not sure about the Rep. slot.

I hate teh Google.

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden


[ Parent ]
A vast array of riches. . . . (0.00 / 0)
Lots of impressive people here.  Given our deep bench, it's clear that the days of "Will someone please please please run for Congress" are over.

I voted for Katrina Swett because her expertise -- human rights and international justice -- is sorely needed on Capitol Hill.  True, we have thrown off the yoke of an immoral Administration that not only tolerated but encouraged violations of the Geneva Convention.  But we still have too many Members of Congress who care more about the next local water project than acts of waterboarding, too many who (through ignorance or indifference) refuse to stand up to totalitarian regimes that persecute their own people.

Yes, I know Katrina far better than the other candidates, and my personal relationship with her and her husband certainly has influenced my vote.  But it has also allowed me to understand the source and depth of her passion for human rights.  And that matters too much to ignore.

Given all of the strong names on this list, I'd encourage everyone to sit back and listen to what they have to say, and avoid breaking into rival camps this early.  We have a vast array of riches.  Let's enjoy them.


Be there or... (4.00 / 1)

College Democrats of New Hampshire Convention
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: St. Anselm College; Dana Center
Street: 100 Saint Anselm Drive
City/Town: Manchester, NH  

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

Should be lots of fun (0.00 / 0)
Once we finalize the schedule I'll post a diary about it.

[ Parent ]
Hirshberg (0.00 / 0)
Its nice to have him on the list, but its a non-starter I believe. I am waiting for his house party for Paul, but my bet is that he endorses Kuster. They have worked togethr on politics for years, and were on the Obama team together.

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

breakdown by support (0.00 / 0)
Swett,Pignatelli,Larsen,and DeJoie supported Hillary Clinton in the Primary. Who turns out in the 2nd-CD Primary is a key factor in picking the Candidate who best can fill the Hodes mold. Who did Merrick, Kelly, and Atkins support ?
Asking because I've seen that things tend to break along these lines in the past. That's not to say that Obama supporters won't back a Clinton supporter or vice versa...that always occurs. But still waters run deep.

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

Primary (4.00 / 1)
Rep. Merrick worked for the great Governor of New Mexico.

[ Parent ]
Primary (4.00 / 2)
Just remembered as well that Sen. Kelly supported then Sen. Clinton if I am not mistaken.

[ Parent ]
Atkins (4.00 / 1)
Mike Atkins was a Clinton support and was a delegate for her in Denver.  

Electing NH Dems since 2004.

[ Parent ]
Don't think it matters (4.00 / 1)
If President Obama had not been elected, or had lost NH, then it might matter, as losing efforts can generate bitterness, but seeing how so many people who supported various candidates in the primary pulled together to win in NH, and how well Democrats did overall in NH, don't see it as a factor. No sore losers or sore winners in 2008!




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


[ Parent ]
No sore, etc. (4.00 / 1)
Kathy you infer that which I did not imply, but I expected this response so you parred the hole. I am not trolling for the rancor vote, just keepin' it real. As my old Sleepy Guy pal has said, we are quite tribal in our politics. You know who you know and who you have been comfortable working along side. When one runs in a primary they have to go to the well of folks they know and trust. That subset or crossection of activists who worked with you on a campaign or two, they became your bff's, and believe me they will call on you. Some people may feel pulle done way, then another. That's normal.

Mike Hoefer's non-scientific polling is a fun and perhaps  useful indicator of early like-itude for a candy date, but that will mean nothing when it comes to staffing up for a grind through the 2nd CD. Berlin, Concord, Hanover, Nashua, Salem, Keene...you need a large and diverse crew of people willing to organize their towns for you, and it will be especially key in a wide open race to hold the seat. Ann Kuster built up her name recognition during the Primary and General election as head of the robust Women for Obama network. I don't think she is going to see competition for resources from other recent Obama graduates. Certainly the universe of available volunteers can only be split so many ways.
The broad spectrum of liberal to moderate to conservative Democrats who will vote in the Primary, will tend to break down in two camps...like different neural networks that operate fairly similarly in parallel, with many points of overlap. The left side and the right side think and act independently, though made form the same stuff.

The agenda of President Barack Obama to radically revive the middle class, as outlined in the budget proposal, will need to be vigorously defended by the next Democratic Congressperson from the 2nd CD.
Nationally we will spend vast sums and incur vast debts, to keep our middle class from completely being wiped out. Polls show that people, not pundits or beltway pols, back Barack's efforts to help them 2-1. Ann McLane Kuster will be as strong a supporter of the President's agenda as she has been since the day he announced for the Primary. Barack Obama motivated her to put everything on line, family, career, and savings. In this wicked bad environment New Hampshire should send such a strong Obama supporter to Congress from the 2nd CD. That's what the people voted for overwhelmingly last Fall...for Barack Obama in Washington and Paul Hodes in Congress. To keep the District in Democratic hands, keep faith with the voters and families of the 2nd CD.


note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other


[ Parent ]
Kuster Vid (4.00 / 1)
From back in the day.


"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden

[ Parent ]
It doesn't have to be about that. (0.00 / 0)
The candidate I voted for last January did not get nominated, though I'm more than happy about Obama having come out on top.  Activists and campaign staffers come to know each other when they work on the same campaign.  It's worth thinking about just based on the networking.

[ Parent ]
Kathy refers to history (0.00 / 0)
No it doesn't have to be about that, but it has been for years. Maybe we are now post something ?

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

[ Parent ]
Right! n/t (0.00 / 0)




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


[ Parent ]
NH-02 (4.00 / 3)
I am an Independent that has been working on the elections since 2004 and spent quite a bit of time on Debora's campaign.  I voted for Deb because she listens to people and she can make a difference.  I know she supported HC in the primary but when the primaries were over she threw her support to Obama as we all did.  I can tell you from experience that Deb has excellent name/brand recognition and her supporters are extremely loyal to her.

BTW, Hodes will make an excellent senator.  Go Paul!


Freep count (4.00 / 5)
Could you tell us how many new users sprung up to freep this poll?

Any sockfreepers?

I'm looking for vague answers.  

"Ill writers are usually the sharpest censors." - John Dryden


Mark Fernald (4.00 / 2)
I have heard that many Democrats in Cheshire County have gotten a call from Mark Fernald.  He says that he is running for the 2d District seat so his name needs to be added to the list.

Next time (0.00 / 0)
Will add him next time. Should have included an other catagory.  

Hope >> Fear





Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.


[ Parent ]
I just heard this last night too (0.00 / 0)
from a very reliable source.

I would have had him put on the list had I known earlier.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker


[ Parent ]
paging Alex Lee... n/t (0.00 / 0)


note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

[ Parent ]
How far we have come! (4.00 / 1)
Those of us 40 and older remember the weird old days of the mid-1980s. It was a struggle to find anyone to run. Now, we have an amazing group of potential candidates.

I served in the House with John and Scott, and they are both smart, savvy, and dedicated guys.

I appreciate the help that Sylvia Larsen and Deb Pignatelli gave me as a newbie state rep.

I admire Katrina Swett for her intellect and her dedication to human rights.

I appreciate Gary Hirshberg's showing us that you can be a shrewd businessman and still care deeply about people (and for his campaign contribution).

I thank Annie McLane Kuster for helping me navigate the byzantine world of NH adoption law, as thankless a task as you will ever find.

Whoever wins this seat will be a credit to our state.

America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. -Harry Truman


And if Mark Fernald is running, the list just got even better (0.00 / 0)


America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. -Harry Truman

[ Parent ]
How far we have come??? (4.00 / 3)
Try this on! I am pushing 70 years old and I feel as though a whole new world has opened for me as a life long DEMOCRAT. Let us all keep this bus rolling!

[ Parent ]
deb pignatelli... (0.00 / 0)
she would do well in nashua, where she lives, and has good support in her district.  i don't have much respect for katrina.  i do like molly kelly and ann mclane kuster.

Hmmm... If NH-02 is going to stay a Dartmouth seat (4.00 / 1)
after Bass '74 and Hodes '72, McLane Kuster '78 would work...

If only we could have more like. . . . (0.00 / 0)
Sen. Tom McIntyre '37

The man was Hubert Humphrey's chief lieutenant in getting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through the Senate, and wrote one of the first books documenting the rise of the New Right.  McIntyre was an excellent senator, and he doesn't get enough credit.


[ Parent ]
Fernald (0.00 / 0)
Mark Fernald has been calling in Orford too.

NH-02 Straw Poll | 31 comments

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