Author Archive

Some results that are sure to get people chattering this weekend. Magellan Strategies, an autodial firm out of Colorado, has Kelly Ayotte with a 13-point lead over Ovide Lamontagne, with Bill Binnie and Jim Bender in the teens:

Ayotte 34%
Lamontagne 21%
Binnie 17%
Bender 13%

Read the full poll here. It surveyed 887 Republicans and independents who intend to vote in the primary. It has all four candidates with remarkably high name ID, which I find surprising given the disparity of TV penetration between the campaigns.

It’s going to be an interesting 11 days.

Over at the increasingly desperate Blue Hampshire, elwood has set off another round of hand-wringing over the controversial Ground Zero Mosque. I haven’t heard any critics of the project call for any branch of government to ban the project. I have heard a lot of people say it’s a really bad idea, and others question the motives of those behind it. But that does stop elwood and his crew from completely butchering the meaning of the First Amendment.

I was just about to post something thanking Rep. Horrigan for taking responsibility for his stupid, hurtful comments. And then I found out that he maybe, sorta won’t be stepping down.

I find Bill Binnie’s first “contrast” ad interesting for a couple of reasons.

First, he’s spending money to reinforce his opponent’s strength, namely Kally Ayotte’s tenure as Attorney General.

But most importantly, I’m concerned about his claim that he knows how to “put people in jobs.” Binnie seems to be making the argument that Congress can somehow create all sorts of jobs in America, if only we had more people like him in Congress. This claim is hardly unique, or ineffective. Lots of politicians from both parties make a habit promising jobs to the voters.

Jim Splaine posts over at BH about a candidate I’ve never heard of running for State Rep. from Ashland, quoting a column in the Concord Monitor.

Crossposted at New Hampshire Watchdog

(CONCORD) Borrowing, transfers, and wishful thinking dwarf the actual spending cuts and tax increases included in a $295 million budget deal unveiled this afternoon at the State House. House and Senate Finance Committee Members held an informational session to give their colleagues and the public a chance to see the budget balancing package they’ve agreed to before both chambers vote on it tomorrow in Special Session called by the Executive Council.

Crossposted at New Hampshire Watchdog.

The Center for Competitive Politics has noticed the New Hampshire Legislature’s attempt to register political speech.

Last night, the Democratic Primary voters in Pennsylvania put an end to the political career of career opportunity Arlen Specter (D-R-D-PA). But in his defeat to liberal Congressman Joe Sestak, Specter did provide a big win for his original and newly-adopted Democratic Party. Because of Specter’s defection, and his high-profile primary fight, Democrats held on to the Congressional seat vacated by the death of Congressman Jack Murtha.

Congressman Mark Souder (R-IND) is apparently resigning after Fox News reports that he had an affair with a part-time Congressional staffer. Souder will no doubt get even more scorn because of his record as an opponent of gay marriage and a self-proclaimed advocate for family values. In fact, TPM has even found a video of Souder being interviewed about abstinence, by the women with whom he was having an affair. Schmuck!