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On a personal and political basis, I like Steve Marchand. I've seen him "operate" through the years, back aways on the Gubernatorial candidates of Jim Normand and Mark Fernald, then his own races for Portsmouth City Council, the most recent resulting in topping the ballot and thus becoming Mayor. In the meantime, he's managed, or been involved in, other campaigns -- including Senators Martha Fuller Clark and Maggie Hassen, and Executive Councilor Bev Hollingworth. A decent record of success, I'd say.
I've especially appreciated the way he goes about campaigning for himself and others, and I've watched that carefully. He is like a laser in identifying an opponent's flaws, but knows how to keep attacks non-personal and to-the-issue. He works hard to clearly explain the differences between himself or those candidates he's supporting, and the opponent -- without just being negative. I wish more politics was like that.
Steve has a political future that shines like a sunrise. I supported him in his races for Portsmouth City Council, and I've written in Blog posts about his accomplishments as our Mayor. I also was an early endorser of his United States Senate candidacy, taking him at his word that if Jeanne Shaheen decided she could give it a run, he would withdraw. Word made. Word kept. And keeping one's word is very important in politics.
It is unfortunate that Steve is ending his tenure as Mayor by not filing his candidacy for reelection this past week, anticipating that Shaheen would not run and he'd stay in the U.S. Senate race. However, he has a couple of terms on the Portsmouth City Council and two years as Mayor on his record, plus: that word made, and that word kept.
In politics, all that is important stuff.
Steve's stated bottom-line goal of his now-ended candidacy, for those who like bottom-lines, was to bring change to government. Well, he's accomplished that already. He and the other candidates who have been running for U.S. Senate these past few months have traveled the state reminding people of the not-so-good things our current Senator has done. There are many.
I personally like John E. Sununu -- I met him years ago when his father was Governor and I was in the State Senate, and I've talked with him numerous times when he was a Congressperson and since he joined the Senate. But I think he's mastered, unfortunately, the ability to be one man here, and another one in Washington. WYSINWYG - - What You See Is Not What You Get.
And often what we see anyway isn't very logical or open-minded.
With Jeanne Shaheen, who you see is what she is. And that's a courageous yet invaluable trait for someone involved in politics.
Back to Steve, what can he do now?...
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To make a living, he can get people elected -- helping Jeanne Shaheen perhaps, or getting into a Presidential campaign at an important time right now. To help build the Democratic Party, he can just continue doing what he's been doing.
To get elected a little later on, there's a Governorship that just might open in 2010, and that isn't very long from now -- of course depending on what John Lynch does. And there are potentially a number of Washington positions that will need to be filled in about a year.
Steve is young, and smart. By planning a run for U.S. Senate, he has spent months networking throughout the state, and done so in a positive, party-building sort of way. His name recognition has increased. I haven't found anyone who doesn't like him. He's taken some strong positions on national issues during the past year which will be favorably remembered in the next few years.
There will be numerous opportunities, and Steve Marchand's political horizon is bright. This guy is quality all the way. Democrats and others who want to see change have a lot for which to thank him already. And there will be more to thank him for later.
Oh, and by the way -- he's still our Portsmouth Mayor for another few months. He has more work to do. He'll do it well.
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