Category: New Hampshire | Main
NH Update: The Wait is Over
January 04, 2008 9:48 PM
Last time I blogged about the New Hampshire experience, I was waiting. Waiting for Iowa to end, waiting for the candidates to arrive, waiting for some primary action. While waiting, I learned that 10 degrees is about 40 degrees too few, and that the average New Hampshire-ite is exposed to anywhere from two to five political commercials per commercial break.
As of this morning, that waiting is over. We're less than 24 hours from the ABC News' New Hampshire Debates, about 36 hours from our show, and around 96 hours away from New Hampshire primary returns.
The hotel is now crammed full of journalists and campaign staffers and the city is full of make-shift work-spaces and satellite trucks. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about all of this madness is that New Hampshire is completely accustomed to it. When making a television show happen from a remote location, we issue some pretty crazy requests. The nice thing about making those requests in New Hampshire is that everyone has heard it before.
Earlier today, while working out of our very own make-shift work-space, I talked with ABC News' Political Director David Chalian. I asked him for his thoughts on the importance of the pending primary now that the Iowa caucuses have been won.
"New Hampshire has always been a critically important early contest for both parties," Chalian said. "On the Democratic side, it may prove quite challenging for Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards to blunt Sen. Obama's momentum coming out of his victory in Iowa with New Hampshire following only five days later -- not a lot of time to make up ground. On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee will be tested by an electorate with far fewer evangelical Christians who lifted him to the top spot in Iowa. New Hampshire presents an opportunity for a wounded Mitt Romney or a renewed John McCain to try to seize control of the Republican nomination battle."
With so much at stake the next few days will surely be fascinating... for me at least. For a local, it's just another election cycle day.
January 4, 2008 in New Hampshire | Permalink | User Comments (12)
NH Update: Hurry Up and Wait
January 03, 2008 8:02 PM
For those of us who boarded a flight to New Hampshire today, it feels like we've entered a period of "hurry up and wait." We hurried to get here, but now I'm sitting in Manchester with Green Room Girl, just waiting for the caucuses to happen. We watched Charlie Gibson, George and all the coverage on ABC's World News. And now we're channel surfing, watching the cable news folks wait... just like us.
Earlier it was 7 degrees in this town, but by the time we'd landed it had heated up to a toasty 10! The first political sign I saw was a McCain '08. The second political sign I saw was a McCain '08. But after those two rolled by it became a montage- Romney here, Obama there, a Clinton pin on a woman walking by.
From what I've seen so far, New Hampshire is certainly decorated with politics, but where's the action? That, I presume, really gets going tomorrow. I'll be back with more then!
January 3, 2008 in New Hampshire | Permalink | User Comments (0)
This Week Hits New Hampshire
January 03, 2008 1:12 PM
Tomorrow, with Iowa behind them, the 2008 presidential contenders will descend upon New Hampshire.
Here at This Week, we've got the story covered from all sides. George and his producer will be in Iowa for the caucus coverage, while some of us head north to Manchester where it is presently 7 degrees and sunny.
I let Green Room Girl out of the Green Room for a few days so she could come along. Moments ago, she spoke exclusively with "This Week All Week."
"I couldn't be more excited," she said. "This is the Super Bowl, World Series, Last Call at Neiman's, all wrapped into one!"
January 3, 2008 in New Hampshire | Permalink | User Comments (1)
