First off, the right. Apparently it's not enough for the GOP Washington elites to strip 2nd district New Hampshire Republicans of a choice. Now even the Villager electoral pundits are getting in on the act. Stu Rothenberg:
This open seat, and the likely candidacy of former Rep. Charles Bass (R), should give Republicans at least an even money chance of winning back the district during the midterm elections.
With the exception of the adverb "likely," Stu dashes headlong over the Republican primary and last year's NRCC supported Republican nominee Jennifer Horn, the woman who represents CD2 Republicans far more accurately than the BassMaster.
Does anyone in DC care about letting Granite State R's figure out whom they want to represent them?
Wait, let me answer that, by going over to the first district. This is an even more interesting saga. Here, it looked initially like the GOP had the best of both worlds in Frank Guinta, a tea-party base thumper who also had the implicit support of the NRCC.
But that support has been nowhere to be found these days in the face of Guinta's lackluster campaign. In what almost feels like a second coup for NHGOP Virtual Chair Judd Gregg (the first being Kelly Ayotte), former Rudman aide, friend of John E. Sununu, defense contractor and lobbyist Rich Ashooh is formally exploring a run.
The contrast with Guinta could not be more stark. It's Glenn Beck's Tea Party v. the Military-Industrial Complex.
Both with Bass in CD2, and Ashooh in CD1, the Old Guard is making a real play for the definition of the NHGOP. But with the demise of the Yankee Republican, and the rise of the fringe, it feels like a fool's errand. Unless vast amounts of DC money distort the contours of the race (which it very well could), the answer will be found on primary day next September.
Onto the Democratic side. Even though the health care reform bill's passage is still tenuous, it's massive, year-long journey is creating some space for real progress.
What I mean is: the current bill represents major reforms that will have, I believe, a meanginful impact on Americans. But as we all know, it still falls short in major ways.
This creates a real opportunity for candidates looking to arrive into the next session of Congress to build on the current bill in future legislation and carry the ball forward. John DeJoie:
As the healthcare debate continues in Washington, it is clear that this will not be the end of reforms, but merely the beginning.
...As your congressman John DeJoie will:
...Offer Medicare for All as a public insurance option;
This is highly encouraging. Future officeholders taking what's being made possible today and making it better for tomorrow.
This is progress. On the other side of the aisle, it's civil war.
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