I campaigned for Clark for 5 days in NH. My report

As some of you know I was in Manchester, NH campaigning for Clark for the last 5 days. It was a great experience and a lot of fun. The people working there are very nice. They are smart, tough, and committed. I worked on many projects and activities. The volunteers and staff were from many states. There were people there from NY (me), Mass., Maine, Oklahoma, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Idaho, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, Vermont, D.C., Nebraska, Texas, NJ, NH, and of course many other places. It’s a mix of volunteers and staff. But mainly volunteers. There are people working 24 hours or close to it. These are great people.

While I was up there I visited the Kucinich staff twice. I also saw offices for Edwards, Lieberman, Kerry, and on my last day Dean. The Clark, Dean, and Lieberman campaigns are the most visible. Kucinich is 4th and Kerry is a weak 5th. I did see a couple lawn signs for Gep and one or two for Edwards. That was it for visibility.
I did run into a Lieberman supporter while I was canvassing. He was canvassing too. He said he was from Connecticut. I don’t think he was sure why he supported Lieberman. I didn’t see anyone else from a campaign around town except Kucinich.

The Kucinich people are great. I met a woman from Oregon that was pretty cool. They are trying to do what they can up there. They have issues with housing for volunteers that she is working on. They were pissed off about a new Dean flyer but that deserves and will get a new thread.

Lieberman is dangerous in NH. He is spending 4 million in ads and has moved there. He doesn’t have to campaign in Iowa. People seem to like him at the town halls that he is doing. He is the only one I saw with billboards. There is potential for Lieberman to do damage there. Most people don’t know that he is running as a republican and they don’t care. I also think that they might see him as out of the fray. They best way to get Lieberman out of this race is for him to finish as a 4th and especially behind Clark. That will make him look bad going into the south. He will continue to be dangerous if he finishes ahead of Clark in NH or he wins anything on Feb. 3rd. Lieberman needs to be shut out to get him out of the way.

People in NH seem to be pretty undecided. I would say support is soft for all candidates. The only ones making any noise there are Clark, Lieberman, and Dean. Edwards may also be but he just doesn’t catch on at all (that will be the great mystery of this campaign).

One last thing. The Clark supporters and volunteers were not all PNAC plants to my disappointment. These were some of the most hardcore Dems I have met. Many of them worked for Bill Bradley last time around. They also supported an impressive list of national and local democrats. They have very well thought out reasons why they support Clark. They do not have the infighting mentality of DU. The reason is that they are too busy. They are positive and focused. BTW, I met at least on DUer by name. Resist the coup. She is a very nice person.

OK, so I gave you all a brain dump. Ask me anything.

You mean as a registered republican, or did you mean that metaphorically?

"The Clark supporters and volunteers were not all PNAC plants to my disappointment."

You mean there is a Clark grassroots and it includes the ever elusive "base"? What a let-down. :cry:

Were any of the Clark supporters part of "the base?"

And how could you tell? Did you test them?

Thank you for your report and for your work. I wish I didn't have to worry about helping my boss meet the payroll or I would be doing more.

Intersting report, especially the Lieberman angle. I know he's going after both Clark and Dean, but I think he hurts Dean more because that's where most of his energy appears to be focused. Agree/disagree?

And many thanks for helping the General.

I mean if he hurts Dean and the votes go elsewhere but not Lieberman it's good. That can happen but the elsewhere has to look strong. If they go to him, that's bad for everyone.

house party I attended for Clark. Interesting. Looks like he appeals to the "intelligentia" who are drawn to smarts and the perceived "classy" factor. I hope it works for him, because he exudes a much more "Presidential" aura than Flyboy Wannabe, but fear it may work against him like it did Bradley vs. Gore's persona.

I still think, like Moynihan did, that Bradley could have won going away - no recount necessary.

know if the former N.J. senator has committed yet but my feeling is that Bradley would hesitate before backing "party establishment" candidates.

firing away on his views on gun control and why he supports it.

I think his support is soft for 2 reasons. The big one is the latest thing about him mortgaging his house. That leads into the second which is he looks like he is not a winner.

With the amount of money Clark raised in contrast with how poorly Kerry did this quarter, do you get the sense that Clark attracted a good amount of previous Kerry supporters or do you think Clark is getting the bulk of support from those who were undecided prior to him jumping into the race?

I know there have been some former Dean supporters who decided to support Clark and I imagine that's true for most campaigns to a certain degree. I didn't think Kerry would drop this low in the polls though after Clark came in. What's your take on it?

There were a couple Clark supporters that were able to convert Kerry people. I think Kerry is in the most danger in NH. There is potential for a bad showing. That changes if he wins Iowa. If he wins Iowa, he will be very tough in NH.

Speaking for myself, I was totally uninspired by any of the candidates until Clark entered the race. I mean TOTALLY. What a difference a day makes - as soon as he declared, I felt that there was hope for our country. So count me as a former undecided...

:yourock:

gives a damn about Lieberman. His phony move isn't impressing anyone in NH - if anything it has the opposite effect. He isn't paying his campaign staff, but he can rent an apartment? :eyes: This isn't someone we'd trust with our taxpayers dollars. He can buy all the billboards he likes - but he has minimal support in this state.

Nice to see you're active here, too. Drop me a PM - I can't send you one, yet (too fresh...)

So who are you rooting for?

I can't PM you yet, either, you're still too new.

where do we know each other from??

This gives me hope, based on what you said about the niceness of all the various candidates' supporters, that in the end we all really will unite behind the nominee.

I should try hard to get to Iowa (as I live in Kansas) in the next weekend or two.

I haven't been able to as yet. But I do have a number of friends in NH who I plan to contact.

*scrunches up face*

you have to say it just like seinfield says "newman" though..

Resist the Coup and her husband are good friends of mine, out here in Ventura County, California. I can't wait for them to get home so I can get their account of the New Hampshire primary campaign. Wish I could have been there!

Thanks for the report. :)

Do they share the same characteristics?

She was at the front door of the HQ I walked in to. She was very pushy and aggressive. Wanted to know how I was so "I can get on the list." I told her I was on the list for 4 months. She kept going. I wasn't impressed.

It would be fun to help out away from home, I won't get vacation till July, I could help out then on the road to the White house.



” JAFO”