I thought some Kosovians might get a kick out of this piece from the Globe back in the fall of 1991. (Since I purchased it, I claim fair use :-))
THE SURPRISING RISE OF PAUL TSONGAS
Author(s): Robert A. Jordan, Globe Staff Date:
November 3, 1991 Page: A21 Section: FOCUS
As past years have proved, New Hampshire's presidential primaries can be full of surprises -- and the current surprise among the Democratic hopefuls is the elevated political standing of former US senator Paul Tsongas.
The most recent poll, taken by Maguire Associates for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, has Tsongas leading among the growing crop of Democrats seeking the presidential nomination. Another, earlier poll suggests that this is no fluke. According to the poll, which was taken several days ago, Tsongas leads with 24 percent. US Sen. Robert Kerrey of Nebraska follows with 19 percent. US Sen. Thomas Harkin of Iowa is third with 12 percent. Virginia Gov. E. Douglas Wilder has 7 percent, and both Arkansas Gov. William Clinton and former California Gov. Jerry Brown come in at 6 percent.
What gives this polling even more substance is another poll taken in September -- before Harkin and Kerrey came into the race -- that put Tsongas' support in New Hampshire at 30 percent. After the entrance of Harkin and Kerrey, Tsongas' support dropped only slightly, by 6 points, reflecting a fairly solid base.
More than a few political analysts might dismiss Tsongas' showing on the basis that Massachusetts candidates are expected to do well in their next-door state. But in Tsongas' case, this conventional wisdom does not apply.
In March of this year, a poll had Tsongas at only 7 percent favorability, despite his Massachusetts connection. Clearly, he did not start out with the visibility and political strength ordinarily associated with a Massachusetts candidate in a strong local media market. Massachusetts candidates such as Sen. Edward Kennedy and former Gov. Michael Dukakis started out with good polling numbers during their New Hampshire forays because of their visibility. But Tsongas, having been out of office for several years, did not have that advantage when he announced his candidacy and started trekking through New Hampshire.
It is his grass-roots efforts that have boosted his standing among New Hampshire voters. While Harkin, who was expected to make a strong early showing, developed his New Hampshire support among institutional officeholders and other political insiders in the state, Tsongas has traveled through virtually every small community over the last six months. He hit the Rotary clubs and chambers of commerce, espousing his pro-business theme of economic rebirth and growth for New Hampshire and the nati on. Evidently, Tsongas' strategy is working, while Harkin's strategy -- and populist themes -- have not yet produced the support expected for his candidacy.
Kerrey's numbers, by comparison, have to be considered almost as good as Tsongas', since he is only 5 points behind at this early stage, and he is 7 points ahead of Harkin. Nonetheless, with Kerrey's charisma, and Harkin's popular themes, it is not insignificant that Tsongas has thus far managed to reap more support than either of them at a time when most political analysts are still writing off the "other" Greek presidential candidate from Massachusetts.
It is still far too early to say how he will do in the New Hampshire primary, but he could cause some serious concern among the other candidates if he continues to do well in the polls. Of course, his support, as well as that for the other hopefuls, could change in minutes if New York Gov. Mario Cuomo decides to enter the Democratic presidential sweepstakes.
If Cuomo were to become a candidate, current polls show he'd be backed by 40 percent of New Hampshire Democratic voters. Tsongas is still second, but his support drops to 9 percent, with Kerrey and Harkin coming in third and fourth in the single digits.
There is little doubt that Cuomo's official presence in New Hampshire would drastically change the current political dynamics. Current wisdom says the primary would be Cuomo's if he wants it.
But in the event that Cuomo decides not to go for it, the focus will return to the political chances of the current crop of candidates. As the months go by, and fund-raisers begin to fill campaign war chests, potential voter support for the candidates could change the current ranking. Kerrey and Harkin could move up. If Clinton (who also is pushing a pro-business theme) and Wilder increase their visibility in the state, they could increase their support, too. Even Brown, despite his high negative rating of 41 percent and low favorability rating of only 18 percent, may improve his standing if he shakes his "Gov. Moonbeam" image.
In essence, if Tsongas (absent Cuomo) does make a significant showing in New Hampshire next year, he finally would have to be recognized as a legitimate contender in the battle for the 1992 Democratic presidential nomination.