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Activists ready to work for Trump in New Hampshire
Some at Manchester event say it's time to rally behind presumptive nominee
Updated: 7:32 AM EDT Jul 1, 2016
John DiStaso
Political Reporter
State Rep. Bob Elliott of Salem at Donald Trump's event in Manchester Thursday. (John DiStaso/WMUR)
Five-term state Rep. Bob Elliott of Salem called it his coming out party."I've been with him all along," Elliott said while waiting for Donald Trump to talk about trade at the former Osram Sylvania plant on Thursday. "But I've been awful quiet about it. I didn't know how the Republican Party (race for the nomination) was going to turn out."But now, I think it's time to make a public statement.""This is the first time I've ever worn this shirt," Elliott said, pointing to his spotless white Trump T-shirt. "I waited a long time, and I decided that I'm going to do it. It's time I made a statement to my people in public.""It's time to come out of the closet, so to speak, because I find that a lot of people who are in favor of Trump are almost afraid to say anything at this point because they think people will ridicule them," he said.Elliott was typical of the grassroots activists who waited for several hours in the hot asphalt parking lot outside the sprawling former light bulb plant.While there were no high-ranking GOP officials in the crowd other than party chairwoman Jennifer Horn, those in attendance were examples of the grassroots political activism so important to winning elections.But Elliott, who is a fixture in his home community, said he is concerned about party unity."I feel very strongly about the fact that the Bushes and Mitt Romney, and all of the men I supported for past presidencies, aren't supporting him. Well, if they're not supporting him, that means that's a vote for Hillary. And I think that's very un-Republican," Elliott said."This is our candidate, and he's got some baggage, but Hillary's got a hell of a lot more baggage, so let's all get together and get behind this man, or this will be the end of the Republican Party."Polly Lowe of Newbury said she has been a Trump supporter "from the very beginning," but was seeing Trump for the first time."We need to change the retirement home in Congress," she said, "and we might as well start at the top with someone who's not a lifetime politician. And I like his views on immigration, the economy and renegotiating trade deals. We take the brunt of it."I've even seen, personally, companies that have closed because of China interactions, so I just have a good overall feel about him."Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Paul Chevalier, a former Veterans of Foreign Wars state commander, was all in for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the New Hampshire primary campaign.But as he waited with a group of his fellow veterans for Trump, Chevalier said it's time for all Republicans to get on board."I'm going to do all I can do. I can't imagine the other side of the coin," Chevalier said. "What happens to the country?"He's coming down to being a little more presidential," Chevalier said, describing Trump. "He got off to a bad start with some of those crude comments."Chevalier said he still has a problem with Trump's description of Sen. John McCain as "not a war hero" last year.As a strong supporter of McCain's two presidential campaigns, Chevalier said, "There is no way I will brush that aside. But I'm going to do what I can for him."Richard Valenzon of Concord said he is a former supporter of Carly Fiorina who found it easy to switch his allegiance to Trump."I like what he says," said Valenzon. "He keeps it simple. He encompasses the whole range of feelings that I have on how the country should go."First-term Rep. Josh Moore of Merrimack said he supported Sen. Ted Cruz in the primary and has moved to Trump."It wasn't really a tough shift at all," he said. "I was all in for Cruz. I really respect the man. I actually like Trump a lot, too. I was able to separate the differences between the two and some the harsh things that were thrown back and forth."I understand that our country is on a bad path, and we need to get back on track. And I do not want Hillary Clinton in there.""Donald Trump is a tough fighter," Moore said. "He's like a ring fighter. He gets in there and he throws punches, and I like that. I want a fighter."Moore said Republicans should unify behind Trump and quickly end any talk of a coup at the Republican National Convention."Trump's got the numbers. He's the man. I understand the differences with people, but we've got to get him in," Moore said. "If we don't get the right person in now, we may lose our country."
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Five-term state Rep. Bob Elliott of Salem called it his coming out party.
"I've been with him all along," Elliott said while waiting for Donald Trump to talk about trade at the former Osram Sylvania plant on Thursday. "But I've been awful quiet about it. I didn't know how the Republican Party (race for the nomination) was going to turn out.
Rank-and-file Republican activists hear Trump rail against Clinton on trade
"But now, I think it's time to make a public statement."
"This is the first time I've ever worn this shirt," Elliott said, pointing to his spotless white Trump T-shirt. "I waited a long time, and I decided that I'm going to do it. It's time I made a statement to my people in public."
"It's time to come out of the closet, so to speak, because I find that a lot of people who are in favor of Trump are almost afraid to say anything at this point because they think people will ridicule them," he said.
Elliott was typical of the grassroots activists who waited for several hours in the hot asphalt parking lot outside the sprawling former light bulb plant.
While there were no high-ranking GOP officials in the crowd other than party chairwoman Jennifer Horn, those in attendance were examples of the grassroots political activism so important to winning elections.
But Elliott, who is a fixture in his home community, said he is concerned about party unity.
"I feel very strongly about the fact that the Bushes and Mitt Romney, and all of the men I supported for past presidencies, aren't supporting him. Well, if they're not supporting him, that means that's a vote for Hillary. And I think that's very un-Republican," Elliott said.
"This is our candidate, and he's got some baggage, but Hillary's got a hell of a lot more baggage, so let's all get together and get behind this man, or this will be the end of the Republican Party."
Polly Lowe of Newbury said she has been a Trump supporter "from the very beginning," but was seeing Trump for the first time.
"We need to change the retirement home in Congress," she said, "and we might as well start at the top with someone who's not a lifetime politician. And I like his views on immigration, the economy and renegotiating trade deals. We take the brunt of it.
"I've even seen, personally, companies that have closed because of China interactions, so I just have a good overall feel about him."
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Paul Chevalier, a former Veterans of Foreign Wars state commander, was all in for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during the New Hampshire primary campaign.
But as he waited with a group of his fellow veterans for Trump, Chevalier said it's time for all Republicans to get on board.
"I'm going to do all I can do. I can't imagine the other side of the coin," Chevalier said. "What happens to the country?
"He's coming down to being a little more presidential," Chevalier said, describing Trump. "He got off to a bad start with some of those crude comments."
Chevalier said he still has a problem with Trump's description of Sen. John McCain as "not a war hero" last year.
As a strong supporter of McCain's two presidential campaigns, Chevalier said, "There is no way I will brush that aside. But I'm going to do what I can for him."
Richard Valenzon of Concord said he is a former supporter of Carly Fiorina who found it easy to switch his allegiance to Trump.
"I like what he says," said Valenzon. "He keeps it simple. He encompasses the whole range of feelings that I have on how the country should go."
First-term Rep. Josh Moore of Merrimack said he supported Sen. Ted Cruz in the primary and has moved to Trump.
"It wasn't really a tough shift at all," he said. "I was all in for Cruz. I really respect the man. I actually like Trump a lot, too. I was able to separate the differences between the two and some the harsh things that were thrown back and forth.
"I understand that our country is on a bad path, and we need to get back on track. And I do not want Hillary Clinton in there."
"Donald Trump is a tough fighter," Moore said. "He's like a ring fighter. He gets in there and he throws punches, and I like that. I want a fighter."
Moore said Republicans should unify behind Trump and quickly end any talk of a coup at the Republican National Convention.
"Trump's got the numbers. He's the man. I understand the differences with people, but we've got to get him in," Moore said. "If we don't get the right person in now, we may lose our country."
WMUR Manchester
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