John DiStaso's Granite Status: Dems prepare to divvy up delegates (and other NH updates)

The Manchester Union Leader ^ | February 13, 2008 | JOHN DISTASO

[Clintonfatigued]

Guinta's latest backers Republican Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta continues to pick up support as he considers a run for governor.

Signing on this week as supporters of his Granite State Leadership PAC are former state Republican Chair Wayne Semprini, veteran campaign operative David Tille, who was most recently Rudy Giuliani's state political director, Neil Levesque, former staffer for U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass, and Manchester school board member Doug Kruse.

Guinta supporters are pleased with what they consider a cross-section of moderate and conservative Republicans. Chief advisor Mike Biundo says Guinta is a proven coalition-builder.

[Clintonfatigued]

Guinta’s campaign should be a high priority for conservatives, for a number of reasons. New Hampshire is an improtant state politically, and Guinta may be the only Republican who can unseat John Lynch.

[AuH2ORepublican]

“Guinta supporters are pleased with what they consider a cross-section of moderate and conservative Republicans. Chief advisor Mike Biundo says Guinta is a proven coalition-builder.”

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That’s good to hear. While Lynch is favored for reelection, a unified GOP electorate and John McCain on the presidential ballot could tilt this race our way. Despite the gloomy predictions of many FReepers, NH has *not* become a heavily RAT state because of immigration from Massachusetts-—the areas across the MA border actually became more Republican between 2000 and 2004, and in any event President Bush increased his vote percentage in NH from 48% in 2000 to 49% in 2004, leaving it as a true swing state.

[Eva]

Frankly, I think that GOP leaders should force the NH primaries to either be held later in the process or not counted at all, like the Democrats did with Florida and Michigan.

Either that or count the New Hampshire delegates as independents to be added in, only in case of a tie.