MANY VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT JENNIFER: MANY VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WILL RECOGNIZE THE
NAMES ON THEIR BALLOT TOMORROW.
ADAM JOINS US AGAIN WITH A LOOK AT THE RACE FEATURING TWO FAMILIAR OPPONENTS.
ADAM: STEVE NEGRON AND LYNNE BLANKENBEKER FINISHED FIRST AND THIRD RESPECTIVELY IN THE 2018 PRIMARY, BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING OF A REMATCH, THIS ONE OF THE MORE DYNAMIC CONTESTS
, WITH EACH CANDIDATE EITHER INVOLVED IN OR CONNECTING WITH KEY 2020 ISSUES.
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT GET A PAIR OF FAMILIAR FACES IN 2020: STEVE NEGRON AND LYNNE BLANKENBEKER FINISHED FIRST AND THIRD IN THE 2018
PRIMARY, WITH NEGRON CLINCHING THE NOMINATION BUT LOSING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST INCUMBENT CONGRESSWOMAN ANNIE KUSTER.
>> WHEN WE DID THE FORENSICS ON IT, AND YOU SEE THAT WE TOOK 117,990 WAS THE MOST VOTES FOR A -- VOTES IN 2002 FOR MIDTERM, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE COULD BUILD UPON.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT RACE.
IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME, HONESTLY.
WE DIDN’T HAVE COVID.
ADAM: AS A NAVY NURSE BLANKENBEKER TREATED COMBAT WOUNDED TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN.
SHE WAS RECENTLY CALLED TO SERVICE IN NEW YORK CITY DURING THE INITIAL COVID-19 SPIKE.
>> SOME FOLKS SAID TO ME, DO YOU THINK THAT WILL RUIN YOUR CAMPAIGN IF YOU GO AND SERVE, AND I SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I DON’T DESERVE TO BE A CONGRESSWOMAN IF I CAN’T STEP ASIDE FROM A RACE AND GO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY DURING A TIME OF CRISIS.
ADAM: BLANKENBEKER EVENTUALLY CONTRACTED A MOSTLY ASYMPTOMATIC CASE OF CORONAVIRUS.
>> FORTUNATELY, I DIDN’T FEEL SICK FROM IT.
ADAM: NEGRON, WHO SERVED TWO DECADES IN THE AIR FORCE, COMMENDS BLANKENBEKER FOR HER FRONT-LINE SERVICE, BUT SAYS HE, TOO, CAN LEAD IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE VIRUS.
>> MY HAT’S OFF TO HER.
SHE DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AND THAT’S WHAT BEING IN THE MILITARY’S ALL ABOUT.
WE HAVE A SAYING IN THE MILITARY, YOU SALUTE AND EXECUTE, AND SHE WENT DOWN THERE AND DID SOME UNBELIEVABLE THINGS ABOARD THE USNS COMFORT.
THE TRUTH OF IT IS IT TAKES MORE THAN THAT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THIS PANDEMIC.
ADAM: NEGRON DOES BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS A PERSON OF COLOR.
HE SAYS HE’S ENDURED RACISM IN HIS LIFE, BUT HE’S NEVER LET IT DEFINE HIM.
>> IT MADE ME STRONGER, IT GAVE ME RESILIENCE.
WHAT I DID FIND IS I WON’T BE A VICTIM ABOUT THAT.
ADAM: THE WINNER OF THIS CONTEST FACES ONE OF THE STEEPER UPHILL BATTLES AMONG THE STATEWIDE RACES, AS 4-TERM INCUMBENT ANNIE KUSTER AWAITS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.
TOM: THIS YEAR HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF NEW CHALLENGES, BUT ONE CRITICAL ISSUE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS STILL ALL TOO FAMILIAR.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SENATE, DON BOLDUC AND CORKY MESSNER, ANSWERED OUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW THEY THINK THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN HELP FIGHT THE OPIOID CRISIS.
>> FIRST THING THEY COULD DO IS STOP THROWING MONEY AT THE PROBLEM.
AND SECOND, IF THEY’RE GOING TO GIVE MONEY, THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES TO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, STARTING WITH PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.
INTERDICTION, TREATMENT, AND THEN SUPPORT SERVICES.
I GO AROUND THIS STATE AND I TALK TO ALL KINDS OF FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE OPIOID CRISIS.
AND WHAT THEY DON’T HAVE IS SUPPORT SERVICES, ENOUGH BEDS, THEY DON’T HAVE A SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM.
INSURANCE DOESN’T COVER WHAT IT NEEDS TO COVER AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
AND ALL WE’RE DOING IS HARM REDUCTION, AND HARM REDUCTION HAS A PLACE, BUT THAT’S WHERE WE’RE THROWING ALL OUR MONEY, AND THEN WE’RE WONDERING WHY WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM.
WELL, IT’S ALSO A PROBLEM AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND AT OUR NORTHERN BORDER AND WE NEED TO STEM THAT.
>> I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST IS SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL DRUGS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER THOSE DRUGS COME ACROSS AND THEY END UP HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
TO SOLVE IT PROVIDE THE MONEY NECESSARY TO SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER.
SECONDLY WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY MAKE SURE THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO HELP PEOPLE,
INCLUDING RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
SO I THINK IT’S THOSE MAIN TWO THINGS: SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER AND MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH FUNDS FOR PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY AND MENTAL HEALTH.
TOM: POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON AND WMUR POLITICAL REPORTER JOHN DISTASO HAVE BEEN TRACKING THIS SENATE PRIMARY . THEY’RE JOINING US NOW FOR A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE RACE.
ADAM: JOHN, I THINK BACK TO THE 2010 GOP SENATE PRIMARY, YOU HAD RISING STAR KELLY AYOTTE CLINGING TO A LEAD WITH OVIDE LAMONTAGNE, RIDING THAT TEA PARTY ENERGY INTO A NEAR UPSET
. ANOTHER CANDIDATE ALL OVER THE AIRWAVES.
IT WAS ELECTRIC.
THIS RACE, ONCE COREY LEWANDOWSKI DECIDED NOT TO RUN AT SUCH A LATE DATE, REALLY TILTED THE ADVANTAGE TO CORKY MESSNER, THE SELF-FUNDING CANDIDATE, AND NOW IT WOULD BE
AN UPSET IF DON BOLDUC CAN PULL THIS OFF.
JOHN: YES.
IT IS NOT JUST THE TRUNK ENDORSEMENT, IS WHAT CAME WITH IT.
THE SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, WHEN THEY GO DOOR-TO-DOOR OR BOLD EVENTS, THEY ARE PROMOTING THE TICKET AND IT GOES DOWN TO MATT
MAUER’S.
BOLDUC FEELS LIKE HE HAS BEEN GIVEN A RAW DEAL IN THE SITUATION AND HE IS MAKING UP FOR THAT BY CAMPAIGNING HARD AND INTENTLY.
BUT CORKY HAS $4 MILLION OF HIS OWN MONEY INTO THIS RACE AND HAS RUN FOR FIVE TELEVISION AD AND HE IS BECOMING THE MORE KNOWN CANDIDATE.
BOLDUC HAS HAD A FEW ADD -- ADS, BUT IT IS ABOUT IF HE CAN GET THE VETERANS WHO LIKE HIS BACKGROUND AS A WAR HERO TO COME TO THE POLLS OR VOTE ABSENTEE?
ADAM: ONE OF THE CHANGES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS OVER THE LAST 10 TO 20 YEARS IS THE IDEA OF DIFFERENT VOTING BLOCS IN DIFFERENT REGIONS IS NOT AS PREVALENT.
I’M CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THE CARPETBAGGER ATTACK WORKS FOR DON BOLDUC IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE.
IN 2014, SCOTT BROWN’S MARGINS AGAINST JIM RUBENS AND BOB SMITH WERE MUCH CLOSER IN COOS AND GRAFTON COUNTIES THAN THEY WERE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE CLOSER TO MASSACHUSETTS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE FEWER VOTES UP THERE, AND MESSNER PROBABLY DOESN’T HAVE THE SAME KIND OF SOUTHERN TIER CLOUT AS SCOTT BROWN.
CLEARLY THERE STILL SEEM TO BE PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE DEEPER ROOTS MATTER MORE.
JOHN: I AGREE.
ONE AREA WE WILL WATCH AS THE LAKES REGION.
THERE IS A RURAL ASPECT TO IT BUT ALSO PEOPLE MOVING IN AND OUT.
MESSNER LIVES IN WOLFEBORO BUT BOLDUC WAS A LACONIA POLICE OFFICER.
SO I THINK THE OLDER VOTERS, IF HE CAN GET HIS MESSAGE TO THEM WITH HIS FINANCES, THAT WILL BE AREAS TO WATCH.
ADAM: UNLESS IT’S A WAVE ELECTION, IT’S VERY RARE TO UNSEAT A SENATE INCUMBENT AFTER THEY WIN THEIR SECOND TERM.
FOR JEANNE SHAHEEN, THAT WAS LAST TIME AROUND, 2014.
NO MATTER WHO WINS, SHE BEGINS THIS GENERAL ELECTION CYCLE ON WEDNESDAY IN A STRONG POSITION.
JOHN: YES.
AT LEAST $10 MILLION CASH ON HAND AND SHE IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME.
BUT WILL THERE BE FATIGUE AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS FOR THE TWO-TERM SENATOR?
THAT IS WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING FOR.
ADAM: IF SHE WINS, SHE WOULD BE 80 YEARS OLD AT THE END OF THAT TERM.
IT MIGHT BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO DEFEAT HER.
JENNIFER: MORE FINAL PITCHES NOW.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, MATT MOWERS AND MATT MAYBERRY MAKE THEIR CASE FOR YOUR VOTE.
>> HELLO.
I’M MATT MAYBERRY, AND I’M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE CHRIS PAPPAS HAS FAILED US. I’M AN AIR FORCE VETERAN, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, AND A LONGTIME REPUBLICAN ACTIVIST IN OUR GREAT
STATE.
I’M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO’S RUNNING TO PUT NH -- NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES FIRST.
I WILL FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. I’LL DEFEND OUR POLICE.
I’LL FIGHT TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS, AND I’LL FIGHT HARD FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES.
I’M GOING TO FIGHT TO SAVE 7800 JOBS AT THE NAVAL SHIPYARD AND OUR FISHING FLEET.
REPUBLICANS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE KNOW ME AND THEY TRUST ME, AND I HAVE A REPUTATION OF GETTING THINGS DONE.
I’M GOING TO TAKE THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE TO WASHINGTON.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I HOPE TO EARN YOUR VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 8, AND GO TO MAYBERRYFORCONGRESS.COM TO LEARN MORE.
AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE GREAT STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> AS THE SON OF A CONSTRUCTION WORKER, I’VE HAD THE CHANCE TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OUR LIVE FREE OR DIE VALUES ARE UNDER ASSAULT DOWN IN WASHINGTON, DC BY THE LIBERAL MOB.
CHRIS PAPPAS HAS SIDED WITH THEM AND NANCY PELOSI.
THEY REFUSE TO HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 AND FOR STEALING AMERICAN JOBS.
CHRIS PAPPAS AND NANCY PELOSI HAVE UNDERMINED OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND VOTED TO ALLOW CRIMINALS TO SUE OUR COPS.
WELL, I’LL BE VERY DIFFERENT.
I’M HONORED TO HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WORKING WITH THE PRESIDENT, WE’LL HOLD CHINA ACCOUNTABLE AND BRING GOOD-PAYING JOBS BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
WE’LL STAND WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GIVE THEM THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND WORKING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND GOVERNOR SUNUNU, WE’LL BRING OUR ECONOMY BACK AND BRING GOOD-PAYING JOBS BACK HERE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I’M MATT MOWERS.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON TUESDAY, BECAUSE WE NEED A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP, AND SOMEONE WHO’S GOING TO FIGHT TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN DREAM TOM: COVID-19 DEALT A BLOW TO
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S ECONOMY THIS YEAR.
JENNIFER: STILL AHEAD, THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR EXPLAIN THEIR IDEAS TO FILL THE BUDGET GAP EX