O'Brien Win Theory - Granite Grok

O’Brien Win Theory

Steve Vaillancourt has a few theories over at NH Insider about why Bill O’Brien won the vote for Speaker yesterday.  I found them interesting, figured I’d share a few..

Theory 2—An Republican Rep inside the caucus told me what I’ve suspected all along, that Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, cost Chandler a handful of votes, certainly enough to cost him the election. Many Republican rank and file are still angry with Jasper over his speech on the House floor attacking O’Brien and other Republicans on the gas tax increase last year. I tried to tell Chandler that he needed to jettison both Jasper and David Hess, R-Hooksett, from his leadership team, but he refused to listen, and now there’s ample evidence that it cost him the election.

Theory 4—When I saw last week that in a scenario which could well be termed “The Empire Strikes Back”, the good old boy Republican establishment was rallying to Chandler’s defense, my initial reaction was that this will not help Chandler; in fact, it’ll hurt him. Kelly Ayotte, Steve Merrill, the Sununus, former Speakers Donna Sytek and Doug Scamman created more backlash than support by their ill-timed last minute letter. Any Rep on the fence most likely resented being told how to vote by party “big wigs”.

Read all Steve’s Theories about Tuesday’s results here.

>