Cook on Concord: What to watch in campaigns

Follow the money; consider the issues not being raised

Brad Cook

By the time you read this, the September primary election will be history and the candidates for the November general election will be in place. There are several key things to watch in the coming campaigns:

1. Money. Obviously, there was a lot of money spent in New Hampshire during the primary, but one candidate, Maura Sullivan, was the focus of a lot of speculation about why so much out-of-state funding was focused on her race for the Democratic nomination for Congress.

Similar examination should be made of the support given candidates for all major races, especially when it comes from out-of-state political action committees with bland-sounding names that are unfamiliar and whose supporters are kept secret. What are they supporting? What have they been promised, if anything? What does their support say about the positions candidates they support may take if elected?

While most of us agree there is much too much money being spent in political races, some money is more suspect than support such as individual contributions of $100 from New Hampshire voters.

2. Issues. Polls have repeatedly found that a candidate’s position on the issues is not in the top reasons voters support candidates. Things like name recognition, location of a candidate’s home and political party affiliation all are cited more often than issues as the reasons for support.

It was interesting during the primary to see what issues candidates stressed in their broadcast ads. Congressman Pappas spent a great deal of time talking about banning stock trading by members of Congress, while seldom, if ever, mentioning the national debt, foreign policy or other more weighty issues. Candidate DiLorenzo ran an ad frequently where a sheriff praised him for opposing “defunding the police,” while to my knowledge, no candidate of either party had proposed doing so. Former Sen. Sununu, in quiet and calm ads, talked about being “laser focused on lowering prices, the debt … making Congress more like New Hampshire.”

While there may be nothing wrong with any of that, taking the available time to talk about things that are minor, peripheral or just generalizations reveals nothing important to voters about a candidate’s plans.

What are important are the candidate’s experience, record in prior office, specific proposals on important issues and demonstrated accomplishments.

To the extent possible, it is important for all voters to press candidates for federal office to take positions on the critical issues like the war in Iran and Ukraine, the $40 trillion debt and the proper role of Congress as a co-equal branch of government. State office seekers should be asked about how to raise sufficient money on the state level to take pressure off the local property tax and support of public education, among many important issues. Generalizations as answers must not be acceptable.

3. Strategy. Voting is more than just picking the most attractive candidate with the most effective ads. What party controls Congress or the New Hampshire Legislature, who will put a check on President Trump, if you think that is needed, or who supports him, if you support him, all are important considerations in voting.

Making sure that “stealth” candidates do not sneak into office — especially in the NH House of Representatives, where “free staters” reportedly file for office in both parties without revealing their intentions and then support rather extreme positions — is important and takes work to discover.

Whether to vote for a candidate about whom you know nothing, or to skip that box, is something to think about. (Obviously, it is best to do enough homework so that does not arise.) Who will be the most effective state chief executive or Executive Council member makes a big difference in the operations of state government.

4. Gerrymandering. Voters need to consider if their votes count as much as they should, or put another way, count equally with the votes of other voters. While this may sound like a silly question, since each voter gets only one vote, the effect of President Trump’s efforts to have states redistrict congressional districts this year instead of every 10 years, and the past efforts in New Hampshire to redraw Executive Council and state Senate districts to favor Republicans, may lessen the effect of the predicted “Democratic wave” some polls and commentators expect. When the results of the November election are known, the answer to those questions will be clearer.

A lot to watch, a lot of work to do and a very important role for each voter to fill. It is the responsibility of each of us to be sure we do our duty, because if we do not, someone else is always ready to do it for us. Take the time and do your homework.

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.