An innocent question

[AspenRose]

So I am visiting my in-laws this week in Litchfield, outside Manchester.

Not being from here, I am wondering if this is traditionally a repuke area....lots of 'W' signs around here and it is depressing.

I've seen Kerry signs too, just not as many.

When we went driving around in the northwestern part of the state yesterday, it was Kerry, Kerry everywhere. (Dartmouth country, near Hanover)

Kerry was in Somersworth too yesterday I think.

[cali]

1. Southern NH

seems to be divided between the parties. The Hanover/Lebanon area, near VT is democratic. It's not really Northern NH, which is pretty much repub. Hanover's a beautiful little town.

[MAlibdem]

7. And guess what else is in Hanover?

Dear Old Dartmouth.

[suff1107]

2. Push Cheney Out yard signs

Make some of these to put around town and bring to rallies - the seem to make everyone do a double take and pay attention.





http://pushcheneyout.com

Also, Granny D still needs help to run her TV ad, if you haven't seen it you should, it's beautiful:
http://www.grannyd.com/alerts/grannyd1.htm

[Bluerthanblue]

3. don't get too

discouraged-
Manchester is abit of a 'different' city-
Concord is VERY Kerry-
and i've been voting in elections here since i became eligible- While we have been 'stuck' in a 'conservitive' rut for a VERY long time- (since the 70's) Bush is NOT and has never been too 'popular' here- he lost the first primary- and i've spoken to MANY devout republicans who cannot bring themselves to vote for him- even if they CANT vote for Kerry- (i'm talking some really crusty repubs) at least they will not be casting votes against Kerry- (many are writing in McCain) i have more hope about my vote actually counting this election, then ever before- i believe Kerry WILL Carry N.H.- (and this is the state of william loeb, and meldrim thompson)-

we're an odd bunch- but not THAT stupid- at least i'm believing the best of my homestate-

emmy

[FightinNewDem]

4. Ohh, condescension!

That's certainly a welcome development...

The Gore/Lieberman ticket carried 9 of Manchester's twelve wards in 2000. Among those Bush won were the supposedly "upscale and educated" Wards 1 and 12.

"Different", huh?

[Bluerthanblue]

6. didn't mean

any offense- i've lived in Central NH all my life, and find that Manchester has changed dramaticly. It and most of the southern NH communities ARE very different then the small town, central and northern areas that i'm much more familiar with- Unfortunately, i must admit a certian predjuce in terms of many of the transplanted citizens that populate much of the southern tier of our state- Indeed MANY of them are quite openminded and much more progressive than some of us crusty hill people.

What i was trying to do was encourage DesertedRose that despite our 'record' as being a very conservitive, and quirky state, i've got more hope for Kerry actually taking this state than i ever would have imagined- People who equate the Democratic party with 'commies' and look to our neighbors to the south as liberal tax-crazed loonies (many of my neighbors, and those i've grown up around) are for the FIRST time in my experience actually talking of voting for a ..'liberal Massachutets Senator" and THAT is something to bring hope into the mix-

Sorry if i offended you- that was NOT my intention-


emmy

[zanana]

9. I just voted in Ward 12

I saw alot of Republican signs, and only a few people holding Democratic signs. Redistricting in 80' really changed this ward.

[aquanut]

5. Republicans galore, but independent too (n/t)

[NewHampshireDem]

8. Litchfield is a bedroom community ... not really reflective of the state

I wouldn't worry too much. There was actually a SLAVERY case in Litchfield a year or so ago. Yes, SLAVERY! To me, that pretty much says it all.

[matt819]

10. Once again, we're excluded :-)

Once more, the Monadnock Region is excluded from a discussion of NH politics. (For those from outside the region, this is the southwest corner of the state, due west of Nashua, southwest of Concord, bordering the Connecticut River and the Republic of Vermont.)

Notwithstanding our republican congressman, we are a democratic enclave in a largely democratic state. The points made by emmy are well taken. An awful lot of in-migration has taken place in southern NH over the past decade, and this has brought with it a more liberal approach (thank goodness), but it continues to be, to my continued suprise and chagrin, a republican stronghold in democratic New England. I'm hoping that this the turnout will throw this "truth" on its head and bring us more in line with the political and social attitudes of the rest of the region.

(Edited for geographic references.)