Upfront, I openly admit my bias for New Hampshire as a state. It's gorgeous and with a charm and spirit in both the landscape and culture that are near impossible to beat. New Hampshire was the leading state this past summer in support of our Blue Star Families Blue Star Museums program, for which I was program manager. Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter personally sent support to an event I hosted at the Currier. And one of my favorite things about New Hampshire? She's not the token female elected representative. New Hampshire is a major leader in political opportunities for women. In fact, two female Democrats are vying for the slot on the ticket in the primary. (tomorrow, September 14).
Jake Tapper (and hopefully other political reporters) want to know which House race to watch this election season.
I know which one: this one -- New Hampshire's 2nd District House race, in which Ann Kuster will likely face Charlie Bass (R).
If Kuster wins and Shea-Porter maintains her incumbency, New Hampshire will offer two of the strongest elected leaders for women to count on.
So...in case this hasn't persuaded you that this is a key race to watch, let me sell you on the top ten reasons you need to care and keep an eye out:
10) NH-02 is one of a small handful of truly toss-up open seat races.
9) Annie Kuster is an adoption attorney and pro-choice champion endorsed by every pro-choice group, even in her primary.
8) Obama won this seat by 13 points in 2008 but a former GOP congressman, Charlie Bass, wants his old seat back.
7) Kuster is running a true grassroots campaign, breaking NH fundraising records for in-state financial support.
6) Congressman Bass voted to intervene in the Terry Schiavo case and restrict stem cell research.
5) NH has two other key competitive races too – NH-01 (a Dem incumbent, Carol Shea-Porter) and Sen (an open seat with Dem Paul Hodes running)
4) Kuster is the nation’s first second-generation woman congressional candidate – her mom narrowly lost this race as a moderate Republican in 1980.
3) NH elected the nation’s first woman to serve as both Governor & Senator (Jeanne Shaheen) and the first female-majority legislative body (the state senate in 2008)
2) Kuster’s campaign manager is taking the primary day off because he and his wife are having their first child…what Momocrat wouldn’t love that??
1) Classic race offering voters either a new approach (Annie Kuster) vs. going back to the problems that got us here (ex-Congressman Charles Bass)
So help us get the word out, lend your support and influence, and let's get this race at the top of our and mainstream media's attention.
I'll make it easy -- here's Tweets and short link:
Top 10 Reasons Why New Hampshire's 2nd District House Race & Annie Kuster Are Worth Watching http://bit.ly/8YGI2s @jaketapper #p2
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