Buckley takes responsibility for UL story

DENVER-New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley took personal responsibility for a story that appeared in this morning's Union Leader.

The article quotes Buckley has saying that a recent Democratic commission, formed to change the primary system, would not affect the New Hampshire primary, but state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) said in the same article that there is a "50-50" percent that the Granite State would not retain the first-in-the-nation primary.

"We have the word of Barack Obama and the word of other party leaders that the New Hampshire primary is safe," Buckley told delegates. "We do not have any problems."

Buckley then took aim at comments made by D'Allesandro, but later corrected his remarks.

"I don't want to read in the paper that one of our delegates think there's a 50-50 chance of us protecting the primary." Buckley later said "I wasn't trying to chastise anyone."

"I think if his info is Obama has guaranteed the primary is safe that's great," D'Allesandro told PolitickerNH.com. "My own personal observation is my own personal observation."

D'Allesandro, referencing the fight to maintain New Hampshire's status, quoting Yogi Berra, said "it's not over until it's over."

Before concluding the breakfast Buckley said "It's my fault, I take full responsibility."

Buckley said he should have held a meeting with delegates to clear up any confusion that might have existed, "I should have known that people would ask questions about it."

Buckley also argued that the Union Leader was distorting the story.

"If the Democrats had taken away half of our delegates away we know what they'd be doing every day."