Will New Hampshire be in play in '04?

[quinnox]

I was looking at an electoral college map, and I noticed that if Gore had won New Hampshire, he would have beaten Bush (by a nose). Then I looked at the vote totals, and Bush only won by 12,000 votes in N.H.

Will New Hampshire be a battleground state, or is it a state that leans towards Bush? Is there any recent local elections that give a hint, like gubernatorial or congressional?

[On the Road]

1. New Hampshire is Definitely in Play

It's torn between the rock-ribbed Republicans and the northeastern liberals. And the type of Republicans in New Hampshire are not Bush's biggest fans. I think the Dem candidate will win in NH.

[ShaneGR]

2. Probably too small to really matter

Not enough electoral votes. But, with the Dems going crazy in NH, I'm sure it's a possible Dem pickup.

Battleground States:
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and New Mexico.

[bluestateguy]

3. Gore got "Nadered" in New Hampshire

Over 50% of New Hampshirites voted for a Left of Center candidate. The right candidate can win the state, perhaps comfortably.

[Vikingking66]

4. hell yes, it's a battleground state

and if we win it, Bush is done.

[HFishbine]

5. Count the Nader Votes

That should be enlightening.

[izzie]

6. I think its day are gone by.

Just a thought.

[maxanne]

8. thanks izzie

I can't tell you how thrilled I am, to have small states like mine written off as unimportant, over and over again. The prejudice against northern rural states on this board is staggering. It would never even occur to me to tell someone they lived in an unimportant place, whose days have gone by. :eyes:

quinnox - to answer your question - New Hampshire is a wildcard state. You never know what might happen here. NH went for Clinton both times. As has been pointed out, Gore only lost by 12,000 votes.
The primary will be interesting. Right now, everyone hates our Republican governor, who bought the office in 2002, including most of his own party. We had an extremely contentious budget battle this year - and a lot of services have been cut. The Republicans have had control of the NH House since the Civil War - and the Repugs also have control of the NH Senate. Things are profoundly screwed up here, and they can't blame Democrats for any of it.

Sure, Live Free or Die is our motto - but many folks here are pragmatists. They hate the financial sinkhole the Bushistas are putting us in. I live in the county that has the highest population of uninsured people - and health insurance is a BIG BIG topic here. We just got screwed by the NH Senate on that issue.

Hell - we went for McCain in a primary - we went for Pat Buchanan! Anything can happen here. A lot of people are fed up. I see more and more Dean stickers on cars around town. Dean appeals to the fiscally minded centrist Republicans who don't give a damn who sleeps with whom.

[phillybri]

7. My in-laws live in North Woodstock, NH....

They are just about the ONLY Dems in their area. That "Live Free or Die" mentality is pretty fervent around there. Luckily, they are 2 of the most out-spoken Dems you've ever seen and they could change some minds up there!

If Bush took it by only 12,000 votes, how could it NOT be in play???