An Insider's View on Taking Back New Hampshire
By Bob Clegg Posted in 2008 | New Hampshire | NH-02 — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
As the 2008 general election draws ever nearer, the eyes of the nation will turn once again to those handful of states deemed "swing states" and once again one of those will be our state of New Hampshire. Having been one of only three states to change its color from the 2000 election to the 2004 election, we will be closely watched as the country tries to gauge which direction the coveted independent vote will go this cycle.
New Hampshirites are strong-willed, independent voters who don't take kindly to people telling us what to do. Nowhere is this more evident than when you look at how we have voted over the past 8 years. In 2000, we delivered New Hampshire to then-Governor Bush by 1%, voted for a Democrat Governor, and both congressional districts went to Republicans. In 2004, we delivered New Hampshire to our neighboring Democrat Senator, John Kerry, by 1% (9,000 votes), voted for a Democrat Governor, a Republican Senator, and 2 Republican congressmen.
Read on . . .
Both of our congressional seats are now occupied by Democrats, but I believe the voters of New Hampshire will deliver them back to the Republicans this year, with John McCain leading the way. This is not because we both have an "R" next to our names; this is because John McCain and I truly represent the mind-set of New Hampshire voters. In 2004, 44% of New Hampshire voters identified themselves as "independent". John McCain is the quintessential independent candidate. In the 2000 primary, New Hampshire voters chose John McCain. In the 2008, there was a new set of wheels put on "The Straight Talk Express" and Senator McCain was propelled down the road to yet another victory in the first-in-the-nation primary.
The Republican Party suffered in New Hampshire in 2004 partly because our voters wanted to see some resemblance of fiscal responsibility in our President. This is the same reason why New Hampshire will reject the almost $1 trillion in new spending proposed by Barack Obama, and will reject the all too common flip-flops of the current congress. We need to look no further than Barack Obama's recent decision to not participate in the public finance system as he had previously pledged, because it is now what's best for him politically.
Being independent also means doing away with partisanship. Senator John McCain has a long history of being criticized by both the far Left or far Right, a clear sign that he is trying to get things done for the American people and that he is not beholden to either one of two labels that make-up the vast majority of American politics; labels that almost 1 in 2 New Hampshirites reject themselves.
Not only do I want to keep our country safe from terrorists and reduce our dependency on foreign oil, but I want to go to Washington to reign in out of control spending and to bring New Hampshire values to the halls of Congress. This is more than about being a Republican or a Democrat; this is about telling Washington that it is about time they get their act together, no matter which side of the aisle they sit on. It is about telling them that those are our tax dollars, so if they don't need to spend them they need to give them back to their rightful owners. It is about going to Washington and actually changing the culture instead of having the culture change people, as is all too common.
In an election that is supposed to be about winning the independent vote, it only makes sense that New Hampshire will be watched closely. Here in New Hampshire we take this role very seriously. We have already voted for John McCain, and against Barack Obama, once this year. Let's do it again in November, and send to Washington, people who know how to get something done. I look forward to having an office on Capitol Hill and working to make sure New Hampshire's independent spirit and common sense are well represented in a place that needs it most.
Please visit my website at http://www.cleggforcongress.com to join my campaign to take back New Hampshire's Second Congressional District.
Unfortunately, we have a similar phenomenon here in Nevada. Our state has been receiving an influx of Californians (myself included) for years. While overall it has contributed to a robust ecomomy, at least until recently, too many CA transplants have brought their liberalism with them. I fear that my adopted hometown of Las Vegas is turning into a miniature LA. Here, too, people seem to forget that the out-of-control liberalism is what made CA so unlivable in the first place.
They soil their own den, then when the economy eventually tanks, they flee to a neighboring state and start making it unfit for human habitation.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
What I find amazing, and saddening, is that nobody is explaining to these people why conditions were so bad in the states they left.
like me who would love to move up to NH 2nd district and have Bob Clegg as my US Congressman.
Through a series of circumstances, it's been my pleasure to get to know Bob Clegg over the last year and I can state emphatically he is a no-holds-barred common sense conservative. He's had the practical experience as a leader in the state legislature facing tough issues.
I am an independent, so he particularly appeals to me with his reach-across-the aisle attitude. He's more concerned with arriving at a solution than getting a headline.(What a concept for Washington)
Nice post Mr. Clegg. As a district 2 voter I am fed up with Hodes and his "franked" pieces along with his 98% "lock-step" voting record with Pelosi.
In response to Civil Truth, most Mass transplants (I am a NY transplant) settle in Rockingham County which is now the reddest county in the state. NH has changed because it is getting older (NH is in the top 10) and attracting seniors from VT, ME, CT, and NY who buy lakefront homes in the North Country, western half of the state and Capital Region. They hold residency in their home states, but vote in our election.
John McCain winning the "Live Free or Die" state. Anyone else thinking Die Hard?
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Right now I'm just a lowly intern down in PA, but when I go to college, I will back the NHGOP 100%.
I would guess that NH votes for Obama (54-46), Shaheen (59-41), and both Dem representatives. Just being realistic, this climate sucks for us and Obama and Shaheen are fairly popular here.
Gas prices are making me cry . . . all the way to the bank!
Check out this interview clip of a Dem Senator, Obama Supporter with Chris Matthews. The guy can't name one Obama senatorial accomplishment, although he can name what obama claims to represent- change and unity.
http://www.greenfaucet.com/hanlons-pub/obama-a-lightweight-nahhh
McCain for POTUS so the left can't ruin SCOTUS.
From what I've been reading, this influx of liberals from Massachusetts has been turning the state more blue and effecting more liberal laws in the state legislature, which the governor has been more than eager to sign. Didn't the governor recently jump on the cargon capping express?
How will you convince your fellow citizens that it's their liberalism that will destroy those things about NH that attracted them to move to NH in the first place.
And Rightly So!