John Durkin, ex-US Senator from NH, endorses Dean

[Atlant]

Former U.S. Sen. John Durkin (D-NH) has endorsed Howard Dean
in the presidential primary.

Durkin was a U.S. senator from New Hampshire from 1975-1980.
Before that, he was the state insurance commissioner.

Durkin was the last Democratic Senator elected from NH,
elected back in the days when there was a much-clearer
distinction between the two major parties.

I'm glad he's endorsed Dr. Dean, and I believe that
Howard Dean will help re-create those formerly clear,
now blurred lines between the two parties.

Atlant

[CMT]

1. nice endorsement

Durkin is a good liberal. I believe in 1980 he supported Sen. Kennedy over President Carter.

[Atlant]

2. Durkin was certainly better than the two Repubs we have now.

Judd ("the Dudd") Gregg
and John Sununu.

Atlant

[FightinNewDem]

3. Durkin

Well, John Durkin is a great guy, but I don't think his endorsement means a damn thing in 2003.

Consider:

*Durkin has not held electec office for 23 years

*Durkin's 1990 comeback attempt was an unmitigated disaster, where he barely managed to eke out a third of the vote against Bob Smith

*Durkin actually spends a considerable amount of time in DC, not NH

*Durkin has never supported the eventual nominee in the primary (Ed Muskie, Ted Kennedy, Tom Harkin, Bill Bradley)

[Atlant]

4. As I mentioned, he's...

As I mentioned, he's the last Democrat to hold a US Senate
seat from the Granite State.

And IIRC, he's the second-to-last Democrat to hold ANY
national-level office from NH.

I value his opinion and his appreciate his endorsement of
Dr. Dean.

Atlant

[FightinNewDem]

5. Third to last, actually

Former 1st district congressman Norm D'Amours (1974-1984) is supporting Gephardt.

Former 2nd district congressman Dick Swett (1990-1994) is supporting Joe Lieberman.

Swett is the only one of the three with anything resembling a political organization, since his wife ran for congress and he is looking at a campaign against Craig Benson.

This isn't meant as a slam against Durkin. Hell, I've gone out drinking with the guy, which was a rite of passage for Democratic pols in the 1980s. I used to work with his daughter, and I did some volunteer work on that best-forgotten 1990 campaign. He's a tremendously entertaining character, and was a good senator. I just think that his day is past, and he really isn't a player in today's political climate.