Going Canvassing in Hampstead/Atkinson on Saturday 9/4. What can we

[Shoeempress]

expect in that area as we are unfamiliar with it? Can anyone provide info?

[FightinNewDem]

1. My old stomping grounds

I grew up n that neck of the woods, and have family members there, so I'll take up the task...

Among Democrats and Independents, you will find that almost everyone is originally from outside of New Hampshire. Even if they have lived here since the mid-1970s, they still have a bit of Mass or NY in them. These aren't the old Elmer Fudd-hat-with-earflaps Republicans. They are folks who quite often work in businesses along I-495 from Newburyport to Lowell. A large number are in tech firms, and in Atkinson, you will run into quite a few professionals (docs, lawyers, etc) who practice in Salem, Derry, and Haverhill, MA, which is just south of Atkinson.

These are also not the sort of Democrats that the state party apparatchiks are used to. They aren't NPR liberals with mousy grey bobs (or grey beards), and they aren't "Lou D'Allesandro" palooka Dems either. These are what I call the Paul Tsongas Voters. They aren't big on shrill ideological pitches; they prefer pragmatic, centrist Dems. Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich didn't fare very well down here, while the combined Kerry/Lieberman/Edwards vote was enormous.

On a practical level, wear comfortable shoes. Most of the homes in these towns are on decent sized lots, so you will be in for a lot more walking than you experienced in Manchester or Nashua or Portsmouth. Also, bring plenty of water; there are few convenience stores once you wander off of Rtes. 111, 121, or 121-A.

Neither town can be called a culinary mecca, but there is a good Middle Eastern place in Hampstead. Kick-ass stuffed grape leaves, kibbi, and tabouli. I believe its over near the Hannaford's supermarket on 111.

Have fun, and say hi to my little brother ;)

[Shoeempress]

2. Trust me I learned the import of comfy shoes in Bedford last weekend

[Shoeempress]

3. Did you know the owner of Commodore Grill is a Secret Kerry Supporter?

We have been in with our Kerry Buttons, when the place was empty. He commented on our buttons and we had a really nice chat. He's afraid of driving out business if he is more obvious.