I'm just now getting a chance to report on last week's meeting at the Dover office of the NHDP. Sorry...I'm in summer mode.
So, this meeting I was invited to was a small gathering, maybe 15 people and a few staffers. Wandering around beforehand, I was chatting up some UNH students when I heard someone call my name. A friend who had worked on the Hillary campaign, and now working for Shaheen. She came across my name when doing data entry (I filled out some card at the Shaheen/Obama event a few weeks ago). She's fellow lesbian mom, so we caught up on kids, campaigns, and starting kindergarten in the fall.
My pal John did the opening act, and there were introductions all around. It quickly became apparent that you must add two pieces to your intro: One was which campaign you worked on in the recent NH primary (a good mix of the top 3, in case you are wondering). The second became a little game of "I've know Jeanne/Bill Shaheen longer than YOU" as we went around the room. How many ordinary people do know in your state who know your governor or Senator? The ones who really knew them, pronounced it Jeannie! The winner was the guy next to me who went through grade school with Billy.
Leo Lessard, Registrar of Deeds, gave a very inspiring talk about retail politics in NH that I loved, complete with quotes from Tip O'Neil.
Next up was Beth Fischer, a staffer. She was a Hillary supporter, so then gave a little homage to HRC which lead to a few supporters who aren't quite on the Obama Bandwagon chiming in. Beth stayed on message (UNITY), but invited HRC supporters to a special meeting to chat about how to best channel that energy into getting Jeanne Shaheen elected to join Clinton in the Senate. (I think that meeting is tonight as I type this.) Anyway, brilliant move. We in NH are lucky to have a very popular female candidate and former governor to focus on, so those so-called disenfranchised female voters can transfer their excitement and energy to her. Since the Shaheens managed both Clinton campaigns in NH, this connection can really excite NH voters: Don't just put Shaheen in the Senate, put her right next to Hillary!
After the meeting, a man seated close by came over to introduce himself: Prof. Watters, now running for NH State Rep in my ward. He lives right down the street from me, and we've crossed paths at UNH events before. We chatted a bit. And on the walk home, while I was reading his handout, he jogged by me on his evening run. How many regular people live in a state where they have met their state rep, let alone run into him frequently? Politics is so accessible in New Hampshire, it's so easy to break it. I guess Prof. Watters will find out just how easy it is to get in & stay in!
