Well, it looks like the newcomer has a lot more going for her than the long term pol in this race; The Union Leader has given its nod to Jeanie Forrester (emphasis mine):
The Republican primary in New Hampshire’s 2nd Senate District pits newcomer Jeanie Forrester of Meredith against longtime New Hampton representative Fran Wendelboe. In our view, Forrester should get the nod here.
Wendelboe is campaigning on her experience in the Legislature and her budget expertise. She knocks her opponent’s credentials when she says only she, Wendelboe, will be "ready on Day 1" to do the tough work of cutting the state budget and restoring fiscal restraint in Concord.
It is true, Forrester doesn’t know the budget like Wendelboe does. We aren’t so sure that’s a bad thing. Over the years, Wendelboe has used her budget expertise to try to block spending cuts and reforms in the Department of Health and Human Services. As far back as 2003, she was saying that she "would like to add to" the HHS budget, and for years afterward she resisted attempts to save money in that department.
About half the voters in the 2nd District are independents. Forrester is the type of fiscally conservative outsider likely to gather widespread support from independent voters this year. She is a businesswoman who has a lot of backing from the business community in the district and says her top priorities will be to fight for small businesses and get the state budget under control. She knows the hurdles small businesses face, and Concord could use a few more fiscally conservative voices like hers.
Republicans would give themselves a good shot at picking up this Senate seat, now held by Democrat Deb Reynolds, by voting for Forrester in the primary.
Day 1, eh? I will point out that with her longevity, Fran was also part of that Republican crowd that failed to fix Clairmont and did such a tremendous job of governing that the electorate replaced them all with respect to being the majority party.
MANY people, just ordinary citizens, are running for office this cycle. Given past results, it should not be hard to believe that a new mindset and attitude among those under the Dome will do a far better job.
The ‘Grok welcomes the Union Leader to the fold – we endorsed Jeanie some time ago…
