April 3, 2008 - 11:42am
GOP primaries expose party divisions
By Brian LawsonNew Hampshire Republicans hope that the 2008 election will erase any gains the Democrats made in 2006.
However, Republican primaries in the First and Second Congressional Districts could expose divisions that would undermine any attempt at unifying the party, Roll Call is reporting.
A potential problem is primary in the Second Congressional District.
State and national Republicans encouraged Jennifer Horn (R-Nashua) to run even though, State Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) was rumored to be interested in the race.
"It's no secret that we encouraged her to take a look at the race," New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen told Roll Call. "We did that at a time when there were no other announced candidates. The party is naturally part of the process, and we're excited that we have more than one quality candidate in the race."
However, State Rep. Fran Wendelboe (R-Hampton) questioned Cullen's motives.
"Bob Clegg had made it very clear that he was seriously considering the race, and Fergus was just discounting it like it didn't really exist," Wendelboe said. "I would have thought that had been the first phone call."
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Poll
Two recent polls suggest Obama is up 10 points in NH. What do you think?
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I doubt it is right, but I just hope it is wrong
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This state is still tied
0%
McCain has a slight lead in my eyes
0%
Obama is up slightly, but not by double digits
20%
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Quote of the Day
October 10, 2008
"I'm not sure that many Americans relate to the Obamas or even can relate to John McCain's life story. I wasn't shot down. I wasn't held prisoner of war for five 1⁄2 years. I didn't go through that transformational experience. ...
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Does anyone take Fran
Does anyone take Fran Wendelboe seriously? It is obviously the role of a political party to recruit candidates.
It seems like the completive primaries and interest in both congressional seats is a sign of strength not weakness for the party.
Primary Contests Are Okay
I agree with a previous comment, that primary contests show the vitality and depth of a political party, except when there are incumbents and even then a primary contest need not be divisive. Within all political parties there is difference of opinion, and expressing those differences within the nomination process is a good way for the party to put its best views forward.
An example is in the Democratic Party where we have two candidates -- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- who wherever they go excite people and bring people into the party and to the polls. There is plenty of time to unify afterward.
I've seen statewide primary contests for five decades, and as long as they don't become too personal they can serve to strengthen, not divide. I think a good example is when Paul McEachern ran against John Lynch in 2004. I think John Lynch became a better candidate because of that challenge, and those of us who supported McEachern backed Lynch in the November election and he won over an incumbent -- Craig Benson, a name not mentioned often nowadays. John Lynch went on to become a fantastic Governor.
Another example is the contest for the 1st District Congressional nomination in the Democratic Party in 2006, where four candidates ran. Carol Shea-Porter went on with a unified party behind her to defeat an incumbent. She's surprising many in Washington with her intelligence and vision.
We shouldn't be afraid of elections. We shouldn't be worried about the democratic process.
All that this seems to show
All that this seems to show is that Fran is trying to stoke the flames so she looks good. She is in constant need of being in the media even if it is bad for the party.
Both congressional primaries are very good for the NH GOP- its hard to say that they are not.
Jeb cannot win against the
Jeb cannot win against the moonbat. It's that simple. he's just too full of himself to admit it.
Shea-Porter's lack of intelliengence and vision on display
Jim Splaine commented on Carol Shea-Porter saying "She's surprising many in Washington with her intelligence and vision." Let's take a look at some of her recent statements that show anything but intelligence and vision.
Regarding her opposition to the Protect America Act, she said "This really is a big scare tactic. Nothing terrible is going to happen". This is a shockingly naive statement and is great evidence that she should not be representing NH.
How about her wasteful trips to Iraq where she issues statements that insult our troops and completely contradict the facts on the ground? On March 25th, the Portsmouth Herald quoted Carol as saying about Iraq "With all the lives that have been lost and the money that's been spent, there has been no measurable progress," No progress? That is a complete lie. Why did she go to Iraq at taxpayer expense and take up the time and efforts of our troops there to come back and issue a baldfaced lie to her constituents?
How about Carol saying that the King of Pork John Murtha is a "Profile in Courage"? At least Murtha now agrees that the surge is working while she still clings to her far left position that it is not.
There's not much intelligence or vision coming from the extremist, soon to defeated Representative from NH, only bitterly partisan and naive blather. I can't to see her get defeated by John Stephen in November!
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