GraniteGrok

You know, NH is a great place for the politically minded!  It is here that retail politics flourishes; there is much truth to the old joke of "hey, aren't you supporting so-and-so?  Dunno, only met him three time so far..."

While it is true that media politics leaps in at the end of the trail (i.e., in true earnest a few weeks before voting day for the Federal candidates, shorter for the State oriented ones) and it does cost tons of money for radio, TV and mailed piece, it is the eye to eye, handshake, and small group talks predominate.  And they certainly are!  Politics among the inside-baseball types, jockeying for the support of this political / activist person or that special interest group by the candidates has been non-stop for months now.  Yes, we are in the Perpetual Campaign here in NH - all the way around from the ticket bottom (the local races at the Town level) to the near top (US Senator).  Lines have been drawn, issues staked out, and stances mostly set (er, they can ALWAYS change, right).  

Looking for a full time hobby (obsession)?  This certainly can be one!

Retail Politics - this stage that is in full force right now here in NH and a lot of it has been precipitated by Judd Gregg's decision to leave the Senate - let's call it Let's-Play-Political-Musical-Chair-Palooza! I'm only going to address the Republican side of the equation. Candidates have not been shy in flocking in for this once in a generation opportunities:

• Senator:
• Hodes wants to make the jump from Congress to Senate and seems to have the Democrat field to himself.  Well, at least, for now; his less than steller poll numbers may act like a summer porch light to other moths out there. 
  
• In fact, I've heard the rumors that in addition to the other "political lurkers" out there waiting to see if there an opportunity, I've heard from multiple sources that it is looking highly possible that Lynch will decide "I've been Gov long enough".  What a WONDERFUL place for the Do Nuttin' Guv Lynch to be hidden amongst 434 others and simply be one of the crowd - he certainly could be uncontroversial and cast no important votes: just like he has as Gov. - but easier!
  
• On the Repub side, there is Kelly Ayotte, Jim Bender, Bill Binnie, and Ovide Lamontagne carving out niches for themselves, with Ayotte being perceived as the Anointed Establishment one, Bender and Binnie the Businessmen, and Ovide (so much easier to type!) as the anti-Establishment, Liberty/Freedom candidate 
• In the polls, everyone is either competitive with Hodes or can beat Hodes.  This is good news, optimistic news, but if conclusions were now, why campaign.  Stuff happens, "macaca" moments take place, and oppo research can turn up golden nuggets of Kryptonite at the most inopportune time.

• CD-2 Congress: with Hodes jumping chairs, yet another empty seat.
  
• I'm not commenting on the Dem side of the field - YET
• Republicans are flocking in to compete for that now empty seat: Bob Guida, Jennifer Horn, and that TEA Party posseur (and relative latecomer to the race) Charlie Bass.  The latter has been (hmm, do I dare make the joke and use the double quotes on the word has and been ???) a professional politician in DC already, Jennifer has not been tainted and Bob has had much experience in NH.

Sidebar: I've already pasted Bass for being a TEA Party wanna-be-without-having-done-the-work.  Imagine that - a politician trying to take credit for the work of others!  Shame on him for even THINKING he could get away with it!

That said, the folks that have been part of the movement;  Jack Kimball has come out of the TEA Party movement here in NH to run on TEA Party principles, and Frank Guinta, Jennifer Horn and Bob Guida have been supportive, spoken at, and helped at events.  Bass can't hold a candle for these folks!

• CD-1 Congress
  
• Frankly, Carol Shea-Porter has become an embarrassment.  Running lock step with Pelosi hasn't helped in the TEA Party environment, but her constant foot-in-mouth disease has made her gaffes and mis-speaks national fodder for the blogosphere o the Right.  Poll numbers?  Tanking.
  
• The front runner on the Right is former Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta accompanied by Bob Bestani, Peter Bearse, Mike Castaldo, and newcomer Rich Ashooh.
  

• Governor
• Lynch - see above.  For someone that has been at 70% positive, the latest Rasmussen polls reflect the Teflon coming off.  What can you say when he polls 50% against 32% against low name recognition Republican rivals?  His integrity is now in question from his flip-flop on gay marriage, his judgment is now in question on the flip-flop on the LLC tax, and now having to lay off workers because of his mismanagement of the budget (er, getting shoved around by the House and Senate Democrats???) ain't helping either
• And Republicans have lined up there as well - Jack Kimball, Karen Testerman, and now John Stephen.
  

And there are still others on the Republican side that are waiting to announce - notably, Sean Mahoney who has been rumored to have been ready to jump in for several races.  While it still remains to see which race (Congress?  Senate?  Gov?), it means that inside the NH GOP, there will be the Republican Committeeman slot open - yet one more chair around which there will be swirls and circles.  I'm already reading / hearing rumors: Grant Bosse, Steve Duprey, Tom Eaton, Joel Maiola, Chuck Douglas, Tom Rath...

Heh!  I would be perceived as the proverbial wrecking ball - a fiscal conservative, a social conservative....Hey, why not a blogger this time?

Naw, I actually SUPPORT the Platform!  Shades of heresy - I actually think the planks are to be promoted, supported, talked about, and put into action!  Worst, I guess, is that I talk straight - and let people know it.  Holding politicians accountable does not endear one to those same such folks.  Plus, I have no money to campaign with - just the 'Grok.  Something tells me that would not be enough...

...or would it?  Comments please.