July 25, 2008 - 12:36pm
Opinion

Abortion sleeper issue for Bradley-Stephen?

Buried in John DiStaso's column this week is a mention of the New Hampshire Citizens for Life endorsement of John Stephen in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary.

The issue of abortion has not played a significant role in the Bradley-Stephen battle yet. If their debates are any indication, the contest has been all about taxes and spending. But when the direct mail starts to drop, that's likely to change.

Jeb Bradley, a congressman defeated during the 2006 Democratic wave, enjoys much better name recognition than Stephen among conservatives, according to the latest University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll.

Currently Bradley enjoys 66/9 favorable/unfavorables among conservatives; among all Republicans, his favorable/unfavorable numbers are 73/2.

In contrast, almost six of 10 conservatives do not know enough about Stephen to express an opinion about him. Among those who do, he stands at 30/8 favorable/unfavorable.

Do Bradley's advantages in name recognition indicate strong allegiance to the former congressman's bid to regain his office? That's unclear.

But Stephen may well remind conservatives of Bradley's pro-choice stance as a way to test that allegiance.

Dante Scala teaches American politics at the University of New Hampshire and blogs at Graniteprof.

DANTE SCALA can be reached via email at dante.scala@unh.edu.
Related topics: John Stephen, Jeb Bradley, NH-1

Comments

Not only that...


Then there's the damaging votes for UNESCO that Bradley must explain.

The pro-abortion/pro-life thing really is not an issue, but the taking over of our educational system is, and those Republicans who vote for UNESCO, well what sets them apart from the Democrats?

07/25/08 10:05 pm

poll


Hey Dante, why don't you get your buddy Andy to do a poll focusing on how many parents of kids with disabilities would vote for John Stephen?

07/26/08 6:13 pm

Education in Local Control


Education should be in the control of the local governments and parents should have options as to where to send their children if they choose too. Public, Catholic, Charter etc. should be choices offered not condemed. As for abortion, a personal opinion should not cloud the professional opinion of what a woman can do with her own body. If personally you are for/against abortion, great! Yet if you are a political office holder, than the professional choice should be not to try and govern over a person's own body and what they do with it. Heck if they ruled abortion illegal, then whats next? Illegal body art (Tatoos)? Illegal percings?

07/26/08 10:05 pm

R vs W


Thank God for Republican's who are smart enough to go against "traditional" Republican Values!

The next best thing to a Dem is a Rhino!

07/27/08 11:59 am

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