More evidence of Republican problems in NH.
When the news broke that Manchester Mayor Giunta decided NOT to make a run for governor, I noted that it was a real bummer, and wondered whether the Republicans could find another candidate that might stand a chance against a still-popular Governor Lynch. That the Granite State GOP once again finds itself in this situation-- without a credible candidate for governor with a chance of beating the Democrat-- is indicative of the ongoing problems faced by the once dominant party. In November of '06, following the electoral drubbing that saw Democrats gain full power in NH, I wrote
...the GOP at the state level here in NH is completely destroyed. And it didn't just happen yesterday. No, the "Grand 'Ole Party" has become a caricature of its former self since the departure of the last dominant Republican governor, Steve Merrill, a decade ago. Quickly exiting the stage without grooming a successor has left the NH Repubs rudderless ever since.
Add to the mix a large number of R.I.N.O.'s (Republicans In Name Only) and a rich Republican able to purchase the governor's title for a single term (Craig Benson) while alienating both legislative branches controlled by his fellow party members- and the stage was set. Instead of working to solve the state's education funding mess once and for all while they controlled the entire state government, the GOP set to fighting against one another. Meanwhile, the Dems laid low, grooming their guy, the present governor Lynch- or, as I call him, Governor Do-Nuthin'. Once he got in the door, he ruffled few feathers and watched the Republicans continue to tear each other up.
And what did the local GOP reps do? They worked their rear ends off in the primary to oust the conservative state senator who wore out his welcome... and then sat back, not wishing to make too many waves, hoping that the voters would do what they've done for the last 100 years- elect Republicans. I guess it didn't work out too well.
Maybe if they would have been promoting and advocating REAL solutions based on their platform of smaller government and strong family values, that great mass of "undecideds" and "independents" would have had reason to cast a Republican ballot. But no, they've tried to play it "safe"- don't take on a "popular" Democratic governor, never highlighting the differences between them and the liberal party and its standardbearers.
Not much appears to have changed in the year and a half since I posted those words. Here at the county level, where Republicans still hold a majority, they have demonstrated a penchant for closed-door government and an unwillingness to reduce spending or the size of government when given a chance. What we find is that, in addition to being the minority party at the state level, many elected Republicans find themselves at odds with the conservative activist base at the grass roots. When Republican politicians say they believe in values of less government, less regulation, and more openness, NOBODY BELIEVES THEM! With a demoralized core, the party remains unable to build a credible "farm team" or the structure necessary for the mechanics of an organized state-wide campaign against the well-financed, motivated Democrats.
Quick-- name a rising star among Republicans. You can't, can you? Unfortunately when you look across the GOP landscape, nobody stands out from the pack. Other than Mayor Giunta, where are the leaders? Which Republican in the state is charging ahead on a mission to promote and implement the key issues that define us as Republicans? Even if there was, would the current crop of Party stalwarts even bother to support such a candidate?
So what's a party lost in the wilderness with no ready savior at hand to do? Why reach back to the glory days of old, by golly! When I first saw the name of former Gov. Merrill as someone NH GOPers were now looking towards for a gubernatorial run against Lynch, it only added to my gloom following the Giunta announcement: We really ARE that desperate on the state level as a party, aren't we?
If you needed any more evidence, check out the list of potential candidates as speculated by Wally Edge at PolitickerNH. Barring a couple of interesting but doubtful names, it's weak at best.
Hopefully we'll fare better when it comes to House races. From what I'm hearing locally, there are some new people expressing interest. It's going to take a lot of new, dedicated blood to turn the NH Republican Party around. What happened to our once grand Party didn't happen overnight, and the fix won't either. Hopefully, we can build some "new talent" that will pay off down the road. In the meantime, Steve Merrill?
