New Hampshire
 

I am a journalist from the UK and will be in the Concord (NH) area next Tuesday and Wednesday filming an item on the elections. Where are the most picturesque spots and where am I most likely to see campaign activity?

For obvious reasons we do not give out information about where our candidates will be campaigning. Check with the Secret Service.

as far as campaigning goes, check the websites of the candidates you are interested in. As far as New Hampshire goes, I love the Portsmouth area.

You will be here for peak foliage season. Drive out to Shaker Canterbury Village, which is a restored Shaker community - very scenic and interesting. If you want to drive a little further, Merideth is a pretty town, or drive on I-89 towards Warner and Mt Kearsarge where you can hike - very picturesque country. As for political action, downtown Concord may be busy. Check with the Republican headquarters right downton for more info. Concord is a great little city, you'll enjoy it!

You could consider doing a piece on either Hart's Location or Dixville Notch, two small towns in northern NH where the handful of residents stay up until midnight before the election and all vote immediately so they can be the first in the nation to post election returns. Either place would also put you smack in the middle of some of the best scenery in the state, although I doubt there's any campaign activity going on.

The ABC network is in NH and the latest news links and political coverage can be found at TheWMURChannel.com

From that page links to NH-Democrats.org shows the Concord office can be e-mailed [email protected] or call 603-225-6899

For picturesque, I am partial to the apple orchards, pumpkin fields, and farm stands.

nhgop.org contact page shows Concord 603-225-9341

you cannot swing a cat and not hit some campaigning zealot anywhere near the MA/NH border. This is our time. Between the Red Sox, Patriots, foliage, college activities, good weather, campaigns, etc. This is our month to shine. I hope that you enjoy it.

Wednesday evening there is a third debate between 2 major party Presidential candidates - so neither candidate will be personally campaigning in NH.

On the other hand, lots of people will be watching on TV and most love to comment on the same debate.

A word of warning about the debate evening, though. It will be 2nd game of important baseball playoff game between Boston Red Sox and NY Yankees - comflicting in time with debate. My prediction is game gets 10 times the viewers in this area.

Why are you even going to New Hampshire?

NH is importantly in US politics because of its early primaries. But NH is the most Republican state in New England, with Republicans sending all four elected officials to Washington, as well as the governorship. It is also the only New England state that went to Bush in 2000.

Take together the fact that NH is a small state (population wise), there simply won't be much political activities right now.

One of the most picturesque spots in Concord is right on Main St. around the Capitol building. There is usually some sort of "activist" activity going on there, as well, but not necessarily campaign activity.

South Concord will have some picturesque "very New England" areas, along with Warner, Henniker, or Hopkinton. You may want to take a drive out to Gould Hill Farm orchards.

Sorry the weather is so miserable this week. Wednesday should have some sun, however.

And yes, you will find more interest in our Red Sox baseball (against our rivals the NY Yankees), and Patriots football (breaking win-streak records), than you will about the election - this particular week!

rkkwan, this year New Hampshire is considered a swing state, so it's right on the front lines as far as political action. Bush and Kerry are literally neck and neck here, so things are very lively. I stopped into the Kerry Edwards headquarters in Lebanon, and saw a lot of very fired up college kids busy making signs and handing out buttons. New Hampshire is not the rock ribbed Republican stronghold it was years ago.Also as is typical of New England, party allegences are not as strong - in other words, a lot of people vote for whoever they damn well want to no matter what party they are.