Political Standing for Oct. 10, 2014
Updated: 5:22 PM EDT Oct 10, 2014
James Pindell
WMUR.com Political Reporter
This week's Political Standing is dedicated to former State Rep. Howard "Crow" Dickinson, who died this week. The staunch conservative served for 32 years in the House earning the title of "dean" and also served as a Conway selectman. He was the definition of a citizen legislator and his colorful quips made him truly one of a kind.Saturday, 7:15 a.m., Political Scoop: My guest this week is Maureen Raiche Manning, a Democrat who officially entered the state Senate contest to challenge Republican Dave Boutin just a few weeks ago. We talk about why she is running and get her stance on a few issues.Sunday, 10 a.m., CloseUP: This week host Josh McElveen sits down with the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District, Annie Kuster and Marilinda Garcia.For Those Keeping TrackPolitical Wire has a smart take on why we probably won't know who controls the U.S. Senate on election night.NotedMore than 10,300 ads have aired in the state's U.S. Senate race so far.ChartedHere is an awesome chart showing just how few Americans will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.Must watch of the weekRepublican candidate for Walt Havenstein sat down with WMUR's Jean Mackin to discuss the murder of his stepmother in 2008.New conspiracy theoryDo we finally have the answer as to why Hillary Clinton agreed to make her first explicit New Hampshire courting event with state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro? The fundraising event in Washington, which was later canceled, could have easily been payback. You see, in former Boston Mayor Tom Menino's new memoir, he says he basically delivered victory to Clinton in the 2008 New Hampshire Primary. (Let that sink in for a bit.) And everyone knows that Lou and Tommy are tight. So why wouldn't Clinton think of Lou, first?2016 New Hampshire PrimaryThis week's WMUR Granite State Poll is really good news for Jeb Bush.Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is coming to New Hampshire a lot.Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he will quit the Republican Party if they don't fight on gay marriage.Questions of the weekWho was the last Democrat before Chris Pappas to be endorsed by the NFIB in two consecutive elections?What does Scott Brown say to Gail when he sees polls about the Massachusetts race for governor?Will people in Loudon vote for both Moffetts just to make sure they voted for the right one?If Charlie Bass never endorsed Marilinda Garcia would anyone even notice?Do all these U.S. Senators and potential presidential candidates coming to New Hampshire really think they are known or helpful at all?How is it that the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council got a U.S. Senate debate, but the state's two largest chambers did not?Will state Senate really come down to whether Andy Sanborn gets re-elected? UPNegative ads: If the WMUR Granite State Poll over the week proved anything it's that negative ads definitely impact a candidate's favorability rating.Joe Daley: Not only can he brag about being married to national Republican rising star, Kelly Ayotte, but Washingtonian Magazine named Ayotte the "hottest" female senator.Jeanne Shaheen: She appears to have some new momentum in the latest poll, now up six instead of just two like last time. More importantly for her are analysis like those by NBC and the Washington Post this week that don't factor in New Hampshire at all in terms of Senate control. This means less money for Brown.Rich Gulla: State Liquor Commission store manager is now the leader of the state's largest union after upsetting Diana Lacey for re-election as president of the State Employees Association.DOWNMarilinda Garcia: Yes, the WMUR Granite State Poll showed her ahead within the margin of error, but it doesn't appear that third party groups are coming to her rescue at a time when she is being out-spent on the air 5 to 1. Plus, not having a clear answer on passenger rail when addressing the Nashua Chamber will get headlines in the paper like this.Scott Brown: The Jeanne Shaheen abortion ad appeared to catch Brown off guard and seems to put Brown in a no-win situation on abortion. Running ads with him reminding voters he is pro-choice cannot be helpful in driving out the Republican base, and yet Shaheen's ad raises questions about whether he should be trusted on his stance.
This week's Political Standing is dedicated to former State Rep. Howard "Crow" Dickinson, who died this week. The staunch conservative served for 32 years in the House earning the title of "dean" and also served as a Conway selectman. He was the definition of a citizen legislator and his colorful quips made him truly one of a kind.
Saturday, 7:15 a.m., Political Scoop: My guest this week is Maureen Raiche Manning, a Democrat who officially entered the state Senate contest to challenge Republican Dave Boutin just a few weeks ago. We talk about why she is running and get her stance on a few issues.
Sunday, 10 a.m., CloseUP: This week host Josh McElveen sits down with the candidates for the 2nd Congressional District, Annie Kuster and Marilinda Garcia.
For Those Keeping Track
Political Wire has a smart take on why we probably won't know who controls the U.S. Senate on election night.
More than 10,300 ads have aired in the state's U.S. Senate race so far.
Charted
Here is an awesome chart showing just how few Americans will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.
Must watch of the week
Republican candidate for Walt Havenstein sat down with WMUR's Jean Mackin to discuss the murder of his stepmother in 2008.
New conspiracy theory
Do we finally have the answer as to why Hillary Clinton agreed to make her first explicit New Hampshire courting event with state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro? The fundraising event in Washington, which was later canceled, could have easily been payback. You see, in former Boston Mayor Tom Menino's new memoir, he says he basically delivered victory to Clinton in the 2008 New Hampshire Primary. (Let that sink in for a bit.) And everyone knows that Lou and Tommy are tight. So why wouldn't Clinton think of Lou, first?
2016 New Hampshire Primary
This week's WMUR Granite State Poll is really good news for Jeb Bush.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is coming to New Hampshire a lot.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says he will quit the Republican Party if they don't fight on gay marriage.
Questions of the week
Who was the last Democrat before Chris Pappas to be endorsed by the NFIB in two consecutive elections?
What does Scott Brown say to Gail when he sees polls about the Massachusetts race for governor?
Will people in Loudon vote for both Moffetts just to make sure they voted for the right one?
If Charlie Bass never endorsed Marilinda Garcia would anyone even notice?
Do all these U.S. Senators and potential presidential candidates coming to New Hampshire really think they are known or helpful at all?
How is it that the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council got a U.S. Senate debate, but the state's two largest chambers did not?
Will state Senate really come down to whether Andy Sanborn gets re-elected?
Negative ads: If the WMUR Granite State Poll over the week proved anything it's that negative ads definitely impact a candidate's favorability rating.
Joe Daley: Not only can he brag about being married to national Republican rising star, Kelly Ayotte, but Washingtonian Magazine named Ayotte the "hottest" female senator.
Jeanne Shaheen: She appears to have some new momentum in the latest poll, now up six instead of just two like last time. More importantly for her are analysis like those by NBC and the Washington Post this week that don't factor in New Hampshire at all in terms of Senate control. This means less money for Brown.
Rich Gulla: State Liquor Commission store manager is now the leader of the state's largest union after upsetting Diana Lacey for re-election as president of the State Employees Association.
Marilinda Garcia: Yes, the WMUR Granite State Poll showed her ahead within the margin of error, but it doesn't appear that third party groups are coming to her rescue at a time when she is being out-spent on the air 5 to 1. Plus, not having a clear answer on passenger rail when addressing the Nashua Chamber will get headlines in the paper like this.
Scott Brown: The Jeanne Shaheen abortion ad appeared to catch Brown off guard and seems to put Brown in a no-win situation on abortion. Running ads with him reminding voters he is pro-choice cannot be helpful in driving out the Republican base, and yet Shaheen's ad raises questions about whether he should be trusted on his stance.