Yup, New Hampshire Is Pretty Hot (political) Sh*t

New Hampshire is a political bellwether (again).

So claims the Cook Report's Jenn Duffy in an article in today's New York Times highlighting the Jeanne Shaheen/John Sununu Senate race:

“It’s probably the best test out there of a political climate being a Republican incumbent’s worst enemy,” said Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. “He does constituent service. He shows up to work. He votes. He brings home the bacon. There are not a lot of inherent things wrong with John Sununu except that he is a Republican.”

Take that 49 other states!

Noted: A real Granite Stater would use a local NH publication to make this same point. Of course, we're not a Granite Stater. We're just a Green Mountain carpetbagger who spent 17 months in NH around and during the '08 Primary.

Unity, New Hampshire Is A Bust With The Locals, Which Is A Problem Considering NH Is A Battleground

The Union Leader's Drew Cline blogs all about it here (we should also note that we heard from other members of the NH press corp yesterday who were far more colorful in their description of the event than Mr. Cline in his blog post).

Cline's final two graphs:

Here’s why this matters. The campaign easily could have chosen to hold this event in Chicago or Manchester or in any place that could have accommodated a large crowd. But it chose Unity for the symbolism, knowing that the logistics were awful. Then it didn’t limit tickest to a number that could be trucked in and out in a timely manner should anything go wrong. So for the sake of symbolism, the Obama campaign knowingly inconvenienced thousands of people, putting the elderly and children at risk, and didn’t adequately plan for their removal from the site.

This is a campaign that imagines it can achieve an effective, rapid withdrawal from Iraq, but it doesn’t even have a competent exit strategy for Unity, New Hampshire.

Yikes.

NH's Sununu/Shaheen Race Is Closer Than People Think...

...but that doesn't mean that Team Shaheen ain't kicking Team Sununu's ass on optics.

Which counts. Especially in a close election.

The above pictures are taken from a Shaheen press release showing (according to them) the enthusiasm of Shaheen supporters at the former Governor's filing on June 6 vs. the lack of anyone at Sununu's filing on June 9th.

Two words Team Sununu: Ground. Game.

Bonnie Raitt Hopes To Make Jeanne Shaheen Feel Like A Natural Woman In New Hampshire

U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen has already hired 8/10ths of the Democratic political talent who worked during the '08 New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

Now the former Governor is going after some of the Primary's star endorsements as well.

Bonnie Raitt, who previously endorsed John Edwards, is coming back to the Granite State to do a concert for Shaheen.

From the Shaheen press release:

The Jeanne Shaheen for Senate campaign announced today that Bonnie Raitt will visit New Hampshire on August 12, 2008, to play a fundraising concert on behalf of former Governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen. Joined by special guest The Refugees, Raitt and her band will hold a concert at Concord's Capitol Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be sold exclusively at www.JeanneShaheen.org beginning June 9 at 10:00 AM.

On a related note, has anyone seen or heard from her opponent John Sununu?

We certainly haven't. And we're now into June.

Jeanne Shaheen, Candidate For U.S. Senate, Does 10 & 1/2

[We cross posted this interview at NOW! Hampshire.com]

Jeanne Shaheen, the first woman to be elected governor of New Hampshire (in 1996, ’98 and ‘00), is running against John Sununu for the opportunity to represent the Granite State in the United States Senate.

The 2008 contest between Governor Shaheen and Senator Sununu is a re-match of their 2002 campaign for Senate (Senator Sununu won that contest 51% to 47%).

Mrs. Shaheen most recently served as Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics.

Mrs. Shaheen lives in Madbury, New Hampshire with her husband, Bill.

We thank Governor Shaheen for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions. As always, our interview is run in its entirety, with no editing or snarky commentary.

1. Governor Shaheen, this is your second run for the United States Senate and your sixth campaign overall – how has politics/campaigns changed since you first ran for elected office in 1990?

One of the biggest changes is how the Internet has allowed me to connect with so many New Hampshire families in a new way. With the Internet, voters can interact with the campaign much more directly, voters can read about issues at greater length with greater ease, and we can invite more people to an event in a shorter amount of time than if we call. Direct contact with voters is still our primary focus, but the Internet is just one more tool we can use to reach them and discuss the biggest challenges facing New Hampshire’s families.

2. You surprised some people in September of 2007 when announced that you were running again for the U.S. Senate. At the time, you held a great job at Harvard and had already served three successful terms as Governor. What motivated you to run for the Senate this time around?

I decided to run for Senate again because I saw the direction our country is heading in and I wanted to stand up and help us get things back on track. Our country is mired in a seemingly endless war, families in New Hampshire are paying skyrocketing health care costs and too many families can’t afford to send their children to college. I’m running for Senate because New Hampshire’s hard-working families need someone in Washington who will stand up for them, not the special interests.

3. What is a “typical” day like on the campaign trail?

I’ve been traveling to all corners of our beautiful state talking with New Hampshire’s families about the changes we need in Washington and what we can do to strengthen our middle class. Very few days are typical, but the thing I enjoy most is talking with people all over our state and hearing what’s on their minds.

4. You have spent a lot of time traveling around New Hampshire talking to voters, what do you think NH voters top four concerns are?

The four concerns I hear the most about are our health care system, investing in and developing clean energy, ending the war in Iraq, and restoring fiscal accountability in Washington.

5. If you are elected to the Senate, what is the very first thing you would do on your first day?

I will meet with the rest of the New Hampshire delegation to discuss how we can help New Hampshire’s families and small businesses.

6. Both you and Senator Sununu supported regime change in Iraq in 2002. We believe that almost everyone wants American troops out of Iraq as quickly and as responsibly as possible. How would Senator Shaheen handle the Iraq War issue differently than Senator Sununu?

First and foremost, I would hold the Bush administration accountable for their actions and spending. For the past five years, Congress has given Bush a rubberstamp on this war—giving no-bid contracts to Halliburton and refusing to conduct significant oversight. We are spending $343 million a day in Iraq with very little accountability in terms of where that money is going and how it is being spent. Too much is at stake for Congress to sit by and allow Bush’s failed agenda to move forward. We need new leadership in Washington that will end this war and ensure that we are spending our resources as best we can to strengthen our economy and support middle class families.

7. Name one decision that Senator Sununu has made that you agree with.

I appreciated Senator Sununu’s work to recognize the veterans, also known as the Pease Greeters, who mobilize at a moment’s notice to welcome or send-off our brave soldiers.

8. Name one decision that Senator Sununu has made that you disagree with.

There are many issues that are important to New Hampshire’s families on which I disagree with Sen. Sununu. I think we should be expanding student aid, not cutting it. We should be expanding middle class tax cuts instead of giving $13 billion in tax cuts to America’s wealthiest oil companies. Rather than blindly following George Bush’s agenda, we need someone in Washington who will stand up and put New Hampshire’s middle-class families, not the wealthy special interests, first.

9. What is one political truth today that if someone had told you would be true 12 months ago you wouldn’t believe him or her?

That the Bush Administration and its allies in Congress would still be pushing for an open-ended commitment in Iraq.

10. As a high profile figure in the Democratic Party, would you like to comment on the Clinton/Obama contest and guarantee that this interview gets front-paged on The Page?

We’re very lucky to have two excellent candidates running for president, either of whom will do a great job in the White House. I’m very excited to watch whomever we nominate win on Election Day.

10.5 Finally, in the interest of bi-partisanship, please say something nice about a Republican elected official in New Hampshire.

I had a good working relationship with Judd Gregg when I was governor and I look forward to working with him in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Sununu For McCain's VP? The Union Leader Will Make Their Pitch On Sunday

The Union Leader's Saturday teaser.

Noted: Team Shaheen what say you?

Noted 2: It probably would have helped Senator Sununu's chances if he had actually endorsed McCain in the '08 New Hampshire Primary

h/t Matt B.

Who Might Love Johnny Mac More Than GMP1? Why The Union Leader Of Course!

GMP1 is spending the next 48 hours in New Hampshire.

Just long enough to help our special lady pack-up for her move down to Washington DC.

It's nice being back in New Hampshire, even for a brief visit.

We have fond memories of the 16 months we spent here. The people that we met, the places that we visited, the stories that we wrote.

And it's nice being back in a state where the major newspaper, the Union Leader, might love John McCain even more than GMP1.

Check out the UL's coverage of McCain's visit to New Hampshire yesterday, including Joe McQuaid's cameo.

Noted: A lucky penny?!!?? Come on, feel the love!

And you can bet that McQuaid's name is far up Team McCain's "pluses" column of whether or not to commit the resources necessary to make New Hampshire a general election battleground state.

Much to Jeanne Shaheen's disappointment.

Hey, New Hampshire loves a genuine American hero.

And he loves them right back.

Jeanne Shaheen Jumps Into New Hampshire U.S. Senate Race

Pindell has the details.

Honestly, we are somewhat surprised that Jeanne Shaheen actually pulled the trigger.

For no other reason than that her Harvard gig was so choice.

But it is the U.S. Senate...

Draft Shaheen Website Up And Running

The Draft Shaheen website is up and running.

Pretty basic stuff. But the important items are all there.

Including trying to squeeze a bit more mileage out of the GOP's 2002 phone jamming scandal.

Is The Draft Shaheen Movement Further Along Than People Think?

Note: This post is based on whispered rumors from people we will not identify.

Note #2: "And you're just a Blog!" our very good friends in the MSM would yell in (half joking we hope) disgust.

Note #3: "And we're just a Blog!" we would yell right back with a big grin on our face.

We don't have any problem printing a rumor we pick up on the New Hampshire Trail, if it comes from a "credible" (our call) source and it isn't some form of character assassination.

And, in the last couple of days, we have heard from "credible" sources that Kathy Sullivan's Draft Shaheen movement is moving along nicely.

Which isn't exactly shocking because A. It's Kathy Sullivan and B. Jeanne Shaheen makes such an attractive candidate.

Full disclosure: We have never met either lady. But we do have a lot of respect for Mrs. Shaheen, who runs a tight ship down in Cambridge.

But what is interesting, we think, is that we've heard that the movement is already identifying various New Hampshire presidential campaign staffers to come work on Shaheen's bid after the NH Primary.

Which makes perfect sense.

Most Presidential campaigns have been on the ground in New Hampshire building their organizations for the last 5 months. So, in theory, if Jeanne Shaheen announces the day after the NH Primary she would already have in place a field organization that has been fully functioning for over a year.

Not too shabby.

Of course, we aren't totally convinced that Mrs. Shaheen actually ends up leaving her great job in Cambridge. But it looks like the political machinery will be there if she wants too.