Too Bad, So Sad: At Last Minute, NH Republican Candidates Think GOP Should Do Something On Climate

[hatrack]

Democrats describe themselves as the only party taking the threat of climate change seriously. And President Trump’s continued denial of climate science and rollbacks of environmental protections haven’t made it easy for Republicans to change that. But some New Hampshire conservatives think their candidates could be doing more to run – and win – on climate change.

Senate candidate Corky Messner and first district Congressional nominee Matt Mowers have both been endorsed by Trump, and echoed some of his views on environmental issues during the campaign. But this month, in a debate on NHPR, Messner said he'd support incentives for renewable energy:

“There are opportunities in alternative fuels that can help the environment – wind power, solar power,” Messner said. “And the market ought to be unleashed to solve those problems.” It sounds like a classically Republican idea – pro-business, pro-competition – but it goes against President Trump's approach to this issue. Some think this divide has made it hard for conservative candidates tied to Trump to stake out their own ground on climate policy. "He doesn't give Republicans a safe place to go on this issue or many issues,” said Tom Rath, a longtime Republican political strategist in New Hampshire.

EDIT

Rath has endorsed Joe Biden, and he thinks Republicans have missed an opportunity to work around Trump on this topic in New Hampshire. Mowers and Messner are both relative newcomers to the state. They've talked in broad strokes about climate change, but Rath said neither has rooted it in local economic concerns.

EDIT

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Some-Republicans-See-Missed-Opportunity-To-Campaign-On-Climate-Change-In-N-H-37058752

[BKDem]

1. Climate change is only something Republicans think about every two, four or six years...

...depending on what office they hold.