Jim Lawrence Formally Announces Run for Congress - Granite Grok

Jim Lawrence Formally Announces Run for Congress

Jim Lawrence on GrokTALK!
Jim Lawrence on GrokTALK!

We finally have a candidate worth voting for in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District. Jim Lawrence (we had a chat with him on GrokTALK! a few weeks ago) has formally announced his candidacy.

(WMURRepublican former state Rep. Jim Lawrence has decided to become a candidate for the 2nd District U.S. House seat, and he has hired a veteran New Hampshire operative who has worked in many state and national campaigns to guide his effort.

And while we have questioned some of his recent employer’s credentials we are pleased to see Mike Biundo behind the wheel of the Lawrence campaign.

Michael Biundo, who has been involved in several presidential elections and state elections for more than two decades and is viewed as a top-notch grassroots organizer, will be Lawrence’s general campaign consultant.

Biundo’s only other NH Congressional campaign, unless my memory has failed me, was Frank Guinta’s first foray when Frank was Mayor of Manchester and singing the TEA Party tune. Frank went to DC and fell in behind leadership, losing the conservative and liberty base in the process. That cost him his first effort at re-election. Guinta found a path back to DC, probably by not being Carol Shea-Porter, but leaves something to be desired when it comes to being a Platform Republican.

Jim Lawrence, to get to my point, is in the right place right now…

Lawrence, a 44-year-old Hudson businessman, U.S. Air Force veteran and former legislator, formed an exploratory committee about three weeks ago, telling WMUR.com at that time, “We’re going to move quickly to see if this is a feasible race, and I believe it is.”

On Tuesday, in a statement, Lawrence said: “The federal government is too big, too bureaucratic, and too inefficient. Our government intrudes too much into our daily lives. We need a congressman who will cut waste, rein in the federal bureaucracy, and return power to the people of New Hampshire. I built my successful business streamlining federal government programs, rooting out inefficiencies and waste, and saving taxpayer dollars. I will do the same in Washington.”

But can he stay there?

Lawrence should have no trouble attracting the base but CD2 is not just literally on the left side of the state. Jim has to win a primary to face Kuster, and he has to beat at least one Republican to his left.

Former New Hampshire House Majority Leader and current state Rep. Jack Flanagan of Brookline announced his candidacy for the seat in March. Also running is Republican Casey Newell of Deerfield.

For the record, I know nothing about Casey Newell. Not yet.

But back to Jim; I think Jim will stick to his message, and I think Biundo can help him tailor it to that district.

My prediction is that Jim Lawrence wins the primary handily. He is easily the strongest candidate. I’ll save my November prognostications for a later date, but General Election Day turnout will matter and Hillary is not exciting Democrats or Independents. That will be a Yuge factor in who wins CD-2 in 2016.

 

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