ADAM: WELCOME BACK TO "CLOSE UP." LOCAL POLITICS, LOCAL MONEY.
THAT’S THE PLEDGE FROM FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATE CHRIS PAPPAS.
PAPPAS, WHO IS IN AN 11-CANDIDATE RACE FOR THE SEAT OPENING UP WITH THE RETIREMENT OF CAROL SHEA-PORTER, IS PLEDGING TO ENSURE THAT A MAJORITY OF HIS DONORS LIVE IN
THE GRANITE STATE.
PAPPAS IS TRAILING IRAQ WAR VETERAN AND FORMER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL MAURA SULLIVAN IN FUNDRAISING.
HE SAYS THIS PLEDGE ISN’T TARGETING HER CAMPAIGN, EVEN THOUGH ABOUT 80% OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE.
>> I THINK TOO OTEN THE VOICES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE VOTERS AND VOTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE DROWNED OUT BY BIG MONEY THAT INFLUENCES POLITICS.
I THINK IF YOU’RE BASED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A CAMPAIGN BUILT ON THE SUPPORT OF PEOPLE FROM THIS STATE.
ADAM: FOUR OTHER CANDIDATES IN CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN THE GRANITE STATE HAVE MADE SEPARATE PLEDGES NOT TO TAKE MONEY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES.
HERE TO HELP US SORT THINGS OUT IS JOHN DISTASO, NEW HAMPSHIRE’S MOST EXPENSIVE POLITICAL REPORTER.
READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
HE IS SAYING THIS IS NOT ABOUT MAURA SULLIVAN BUT -- ?
JOHN: WHO ELSE WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
MAURA SULLIVAN HAS 80% OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS COMING FROM OUT OF STATE.
CHRIS PAPPAS HAS ABOUT 80% OF HIS COMING FROM IN-STATE.
SHE HAS OUTRAISED EVERYONE.
HE IS STILL TRAILING IN FUNDRAISING.
IN A PRIMARY, IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT FUNDRAISING.
MAURA SULLIVAN’S ANSWER TO THIS WAS --I AM PARAPHRASING -- THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO DISARM AND WEAK HERSELF SO SHE CAN BE IN A POSITION TO TAKE ON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IN THE
GENERAL ELECTION.
ADAM: IT IS INTERESTING YOU MENTIONED SHE DOES NOT WANT TO TIE ONE ARM BEHIND HER BACK AND HAS LEANED INTO THIS SAYING THIS IS A SEAT THAT HAS GONE BACK AND FORTH AND MAYBE I AM SOMEONE WHO
CAN KEEP HOLDING IT FOR DEMOCRATS.
JOHN: HER PROBLEM IS STILL THE FACT SHE HAS THIS SORT OF CARPETBAGGER IMAGE.
SHE HAS COME FROM OUT-OF-STATE.
SHE NEEDS TO OVERCOME THAT.
SHE IS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AS THEY ALL ARE, TIRELESSLY.
I’M WAITING FOR TELEVISION ADVERTISING.
CERTAINLY NOT A PLUG, BUT I’M SAYING AT SOME POINT SOON I WOULD THINK AFTER THIS WEEK WITH THE HOLIDAY, WE WILL START TO SEE SOME OF THAT.
SHE CERTAINLY HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND.
I THINK SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND IT BECAUSE PAPPAS HAS THE NAME RECOGNITION FROM BEING AROUND THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HIS WHOLE LIFE, AND SHE DOES NOT.
ADAM: LET’S GET TO THE JANUS DECISION.
IS THIS GOING TO CURTAIL THE POLITICAL FORCE UNIONS HAVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?
JOHN: I THINK IT WILL.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, HE IS SAYING THERE WILL BE A BACKLASH AND THEY WILL BE INCREASING THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
WHILE IT IS NOW THE LAW OF THE LAND IN TERMS OF THE INABILITY TO COLLECT FEES, IT WILL BE A VERY BIG ISSUE IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSE.
I THINK BOTH SIDES WILL BE USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE NEEDS TO TURN BLUE.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, PROPONENTS OF RIGHT TO WORK WILL TRY TO USE THIS TO BROADEN RIGHT TO WORK BEYOND THE PUBLIC SECTOR INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THEY HAVE TRIED FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND IT HAS NOT WORKED OUT.
IT WAS ONE OF CHRIS SUNUNU’S FIRS INITIATIVES A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND IT FAILED.
PERHAPS -- THIS WILL CERTAINLY GIVE THEM ENERGY ON BOTH SIDES.
LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY.
ADAM: JASON KANTDER NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
HE IS ABLE TO BUILD UP RECOGNITION AND WALK AWAY WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH.
>> I CANNOT REMEMBER ANYTHING LIKE JASON KANDER.
IT SEEMED CLEAR HE WAS RUNNING -- WORKING TOWARD RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
NOW HE IS NOT RUNNING AND HE IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY.
ADAM: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME THIS SUNDAY.
THAT WRAPS UP THIS EDITION OF "CLOSE UP: NEW HAMPSHIRE." THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE’LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.
HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY.