New Hampshire or Bust for McCain?

Today, McCain was again the Old John McCain New Hampshire voters have grown to like over ten years, giving him decisive victories in two primaries. But despite the fact he was on message with tax and spend issues that live in the blood of the new Hampshire voter, the room was not full.

Murmurs in the crowd, mostly republican, were of concern for him, and for Senator Sununu. He didn't mention Bill Ayers. He did mention ACORN. Other than that, attacks were on policy, not character. Ok, except the one time he said the election was about leadership and character.

"There is no place I'd rather be today than an underdog campaigning in NH," said McCain today.
The problem is, he can't even spend the time it would take to close this state, let alone others that have more than 4 electoral votes. Aside from Pennsylvania, this is the only Kerry state he even has a real hope of winning.

Its not true he is conceding the state - GM Jeff Barlett at WMUR confirmed he still owns plenty of ad time. McCain knows not to blow his wad here - the state can't be bought. As was evident for Steve Forbes, who "built the house" that WMUR now is. As was evident for GW Bush in 2000. As was evident from President Bush in 1992, who almost lost the primary to Pat Buchanan.

"I love you. I love New Hampshire. I know I can count on you again, to come from behind and take a victory and take it all the way to Washington, D.C.," said McCain. If not here then where? If he now than when?

Comments

[seamusnh]

NH will go for McCain. He won primaries here before. Obama couldn't beat Hillary here. NH has the highest ex-military/retired military in the country. McCain will take the state. One small spot of red in the blue northeast...

[Boston1775]

John McCain, Sarah Palin and WTKK (hate radio from Boston) are doing round the clock negatives in New Hampshire.
They must have bile for blood.
Hans von Spakovsky yes, that Hans who is under investigation by Congress,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_A._von_Spakovsky

is advising WTKK that the letter from Obama's legal counsel to Attorney General Mukasey concerning election fraud and its relation to the US Attorney firings is not really about that...
Hans tells them it's an attack on free speech.

http://wtkk.everyzing.com/viewMedia.jsp?dedupe=1&res=349623050&index=4&col=en-aud-pod_wtkk-ep&e=21249488&il=en&num=10&s=PZSID_0000806771;Michael+Graham%2C+WTKK%2C+Boston%2C+MA&start=0&expand=true&match=query,channel&filter=0&y=0&x=0

I'm waiting for karma.
Karma from all those who died because of the Bush administration.
Karma from those who know what happened in the 2000, 2004 elections but are too blackmailed to tell.
Karma from those in New Hampshire that have been fooled for the last time by the idiot savants of what remains of the Repubican party and its best friend, hate radio.
Karma.

[BlackDemfromNH]

One thing we are in NH is realistic. We are a common sense kind of people. We are down to earth and practical. And we usually see through bull. This is why Barack Obama will defeat John McCain in NH. Barack has proven himself to the citizens here. He was honest with us, not patronizing. After he defeat here courtesy of Hillary Clinton, he learned not to take us for granted. He invested time in us. As a result, he will have our state's electoral votes. John McCain, on the other hand, became someone else. He sold out to his own party and did not stay true to himself, who he really was. I would argue that NH fell out of love with McCain because he didn't stay true. Obama has shown us that integrity now, and he will reap the benefits of that.

[Rapid Ray]

John McCain may fondly recall his primary victories here, but this is the first time he's had to contend with someone outside of his party in New Hampshire.

He's only been required to entice Republican party voters in the past, but now has to contend not only with Democratic opposition, but a state where voter registration is 1/3 Independent.
The flood of McCain's negative advertising here has been nothing short of all encompassing. There are no other ads he is running.

Sununu is pretty much dong the same against former Governor Jean Shaheen and it, quite frankly, is falling on it's face. Those same "tax and spend issues that live in the blood of the new Hampshire voter" have not been a powerful enough argument, even against Shaheen who tried to establish a state income tax on the Granite State during her reign in Concord.

"I love you. I love New Hampshire. I know I can count on you again, to come from behind and take a victory and take it all the way to Washington, D.C.,"

Sorry, John, but that love isn't enough to overcome our common sense and coming from behind isn't likely. We only have four Electoral College votes and do not hand them out lightly, much less in the name of "fond memories"
We will direct them towards our future, not your past.

[BlackJAC]

I'm personally getting sick of all the Sununu commercials. "Jeanne Shaheen tried to bring New Hampshire into the twentieth century against the wishes of her constituents! I'm John Sununu; vote for me because I walk with purpose despite looking and sounding like a complete dweeb!"

[leftLibertarian]

I live in New Hampshire and I'm voting for Ron Paul for president.