Some of this political season’s closest races will likely be between candidates for state senate.
Democrats expect to expand their 14-10 majority.
Republicans believe they will pick up seats after a disastrous 2006 election cycle.
But New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports that both parties agree two variables this year will affect who will control the chamber next session.
Some of this political season’s closest races will likely be between candidates for state senate.
Democrats expect to expand their 14-10 majority.
Republicans believe they will pick up seats after a disastrous 2006 election cycle.
But New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein reports that both parties agree two variables this year will affect who will control the chamber next session.
When he discusses 2006 state Senate results, UNH political science professor Dante Scala often talks about the Democratic tidal wave that hit Republicans.
1:04 Democrats, of course, had a huge advantage in 2006 b/c Governor Lynch won so overwhelming at the top of the ticket that was bound to have a cascade affect down ticket with those state senate races.
Prior to the election Republicans held a commanding 16-8 majority.
By the time the votes were counted Democrats had 14 of the 24 seats.
But Scala and party leaders believe 2008 will play out differently.
This year Republicans have strong candidates at the top of the ticket like John McCain and John Sununu.
GOP chairman Fergus Cullen thinks those two will improve his party’s chances in some contests.
10:47 if we look through the map we can probably pick out four state senators who were swept in last time...if you are a NH Republican, that is a huge improvement over the political environment our candidates faced two years ago.
Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley likes the slate of candidates his party is fielding.
He likes it so much that on the first day of the filing period Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley had the candidates parade across the State House plaza.
On their up the steps, Buckley posed the group for a kind of team photo.
Sfx: Buckley giving instructions to Senate candidates
Buckley says he wanted to send a message to Republicans and political contributors that Democrats intend to keep control of the chamber.
He predicts the Democratic caucus will pick up at least two seats this year.
Buckley thinks that, in part, because the state has abolished straight ticket voting.
2:36 so many of these Republicans that have been elected year in and year out no longer have the ability to hide behind the party label the voters are actually going to have to check the name off.
Buckley says Democrats will be well armed for battle.
He says the Democratic Senate Political Action Committee has raised more than $330,000 in fundraising- topping its own 2006 record.
And the party has announced it will open some 20 offices across the state- including in towns that aren’t Democratic strongholds.
16:43... if the Democrats want to be opening 20 offices and spending rent checks to 20 different landlords around the state. We hope they spend it all that way.
Fergus Cullen isn’t intimidated because he believes the GOP has issues on its side.
1:05...thanks to a reckless Democratic majority in Concord. Allowed a 17% increase in state spending, the state budget, despite having record high revenues has a deficit situation.... So we have plenty of issues to talk about, which we didn’t have in 2006. Now we do.
Republicans will criticize opponents for what they call nanny-state legislation like passing the in-door smoking ban and capping pay day loans.
Those kinds of measures have inspired Republican Senate leader Ted Gatsas to create a little motto.
1:06 change, and now it’s time to change back...I would say that that is the slogan for the state they’ve seen change and now they want to change back.
The slogans and the rhetoric roll off Democratic leader Ray Buckley’s back.
12:02 I am not smirking, I am smiling. It is a smile of pride, not arrogance.
For NHPR News, I’m DG.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo