A report from NH

[sandnsea]

These are some great bloggers who have done so much over the last months, online and offline, for the Kerry campaign. Thought I'd share a taste of campaigning in New Hampshire!

Kerry Bloggers Take on NH
Karen, Fe, and Sam Reporting!

This is Karen, and this is a group post from three of Kerry's loyal bloggers from all over the country who've converged on New Hampshire for the final push. We've all been working for John online all fall, spreading the message and fighting with the ever-present trolls. We've been online friends, but we all decided it was time to put our bodies on the ground in New Hampshire to fight for this next victory.

I'm here in NH with Fe, Pamela, and now Sam Park just showed up from CA! We had a great morning with JK--he advertised the blog and said we had been working on behalf of his candidacy for months--and he appreciates all we do! Present at the event were lou, marjorie, Tina, Tela, Fe, Pamela, her daughter, Maura (UR&IM4JK), and marjorie's friend Sally (who will join us here on the blog soon, we hope!).

The speech was a great affirmation for all of us. We couldn't help but feel that all the months of speaking our truth to trolls and freepers were worth it. We saw a true leader, with real plans and honest full answers.

Then we went back to the headquarters in Manchester and helped out where we could. I was assisting someone in getting lawyers to look over the election codes for NH; assuring an honest process. Tina was operating in full management mode as she shuttled messages around and connected staffers with information. Maura welcomed and directed people, Marjorie and Sally made phone calls, Pamela, Fe, and Pamela's daughter got to watch JK play hockey!
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From Fe
After a full day in the New Hampshire cold, I found the phrase "born the snows of New Hampshire" has special significance. In dead hell cold, Democrats consider who the nominee should be. I'm actually glad it happens here and now. Think of an independent test group truly sampling a product type, and you get the picture multiplied by a million or so. And they were asking the most thoughtful questions.

Our guy was not exempt from the tough scrutiny the good people of New Hampshire had for him when he did a Q & A this morning after his acceptance of the LCV endorsement.

In a hall full to capacity with supporters and undecideds, he was grilled on how he planned to address the environmental problems of the state and country, how would he handle global trade agreements and the WTO. He was asked how would he address improving the education system --of "No Child Left Behind" the Enron deal of public education handed to our children. Our guy worked. He didn't slide into glibness, he answered fully and with facts to back it up and his knowledge is deep.

I've been told of the legend of JK working a room in this way, but until today, it was just rumor. I found a candidate who has humbled himself and come to connect with people in a very real way.

New Hampshire is a beautiful backdrop for the theater of politics, from its pristine hills of snow, white birches, and the town halls, high school gyms and hockey rinks full of families, cheering JK, Ray Bourque, and Dennis Leary on in a charity celebrity hockey match. Leary himself had a golden recommendation of JK, saying he was the only elected official who waited vigil upon the retrieval of the remains of those many fire fighters who lost their lives in Massachusetts in 1999, and he did it with no fanfare, no press. Just concern and compassion.

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Sam Park here and feeling a little bleary from a looooong day. Didn't sleep last night, caught a few hours on the plane from California and landed in Boston. The COLD is everything you hear and more (at least to this California guy).

I got to the candidates' dinner in Nashua and even the bar was freezing. Actress Glenn Close walked by and smiled through the glass into the place. Surreal. I didn't have a ticket into the dinner so this report is FROM THE BAR. Spoke with many media folks covering the campaign. I heard some weird stories on different candidates (except John). Amazing what a few drinks ply out of a reporter or a camera person.

I went to the men's room and walked in holding the door for Wesley Clark. While I'm admiring the wall and dealing with the after effects of drinking a few beers, Clark's entourage were engaging in a major strategy conference with the candidate as he was, er, admiring the wall. I was not really noticed until I finished washing up and suddenly I saw a slight hint of WHOOPS! in their eyes. Did I mention surreal earlier?

Back in the bar I talked to some locals who obviously love the attention (and they were great folks to hang with). I ran into some Kerry campaign folks (here's where the drinks cloud my mind) and have forgotten their names but these sweet folks got me a ticket into the dinner as John Kerry takes the stage! And there was my fellow blogger from California Pamela and her daughter waving me over to some empty seats. Got a quick hug from Fe and Karen (our first face to face meeting).

Kerry did a superb speech with the crowd going nuts several times while jumping to their feet. I felt so proud of Kerry. The room was really going for him. Life is goooood. I'm tired as hell but going to bed a happy Kerry supporter tonight, ready to get up and work around the clock for the next three days!

http://blog.johnkerry.com/

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Oh I'm jealous

that sounds like fun. She's not kidding either, they really know how to play whack-a-troll.

[kstewart33]

2. Guys, thanks for the great report!

It's great to get first-hand accounts of what's going on in NH. I wish I could be there and experience it.