Well, no surprises here! In New Hampshire’s second district Tuesday’s primary decided the two candidates who will compete for this open seat. With the second highest voter turnout in a primary for the state, Ann Mclane Kuster easily won the Democratic nomination. Charlie Bass, with a smaller margin, secured the Republican nomination. New Hampshire has a semi-closed primary system, which I believe is the most favorable of primaries, because it gives independent voters a chance to have a voice in the beginning stages of an election. Because of this, these candidates can truly represent the residents of New Hampshire.
Clearly the campaign tactics of Kuster supporters that we saw last week had an impact on the primary results; Annie dominated on Tuesday, securing the win with a margin of 37% over Katrina Swett. The liberal Kuster appealed to more conservative voters during her nomination acceptance speech, talking about bipartisanship during the November campaign. She also seemed confident in her ability to keep this seat in her capable Democratic hands, saying “voters will have a crystal clear choice in November”. This confidence is encouraging to liberals, but Kuster will have to make her case to the more moderate democrats and independents in order to overcome the more moderate Bass come November.
Charlie Bass had a closer race, winning the Republican nomination by only an 8% margin with ballots still coming in late into Tuesday night. As a seasoned politician and former New Hampshire representative, Bass didn’t waste any time making a few jabs at Kuster and beginning to lay out his platform. He told a chanting crowd “My opponent Anne Kuster believes that Washington hasn't spent enough. And that taxes aren't high enough… all of us must stand together and take our country back, and make the next 48 days, Kuster's last stand." I know that I for one can’t wait to see the reaction of Ann Kuster and the Democrats. One thing is for sure, whatever the outcome of this race, it seems like it’ll be anything but dull.
This campaign seems to be heating up! I am very interested in seeing what Kuster has to bring to the table against Bass since Bass has already began to attack Kuster and her campaign ideals.
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