Today's Boston Globe ran an exciting story about the drawing power of Democratic presidential hopefuls across New Hampshire as compared to the lame attendance experienced by their Republican counterparts.
The article says that top Dems are generating so much enthusiasm that they have to issue tickets to their events. Republicans can't even pack the house with offers of free food!
Susan Milligan and James W. Pindell, Globe Correspondent | May 31, 2007
MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Democratic presidential candidates are drawing bigger crowds, more donors, and more energy from the New Hampshire electorate than Republican hopefuls are, a sign to officials in both parties of a lack of enthusiasm for the current GOP field and a tired state Republican Party still reeling from a historic defeat in November.
The article goes onto look at some recent attendance numbers. Obama is bringing in the crowds.
Obama drew a crowd of more than 5,000 for a rally at Dartmouth College on Monday, a day after 1,200 people attended a standing-room-only meeting in a high school gym in Littleton, according to local news accounts.
So is Hillary.
Clinton drew a crowd of 1,200 when she spoke at Dover High School earlier this year, while McCain attracted just 125 voters at a barbecue in the same town.
Free food, and McCain can only get 125 voters to show up. Love that!
Edwards, while not bringing in the big numbers of Obama and Hillary, attracts more than any Republican.
McCain's crowd of 350 was also smaller than the 500 attracted by former senator John Edwards when the North Carolina Democrat made his first trip to the Granite State after announcing his candidacy for president
At New England College, Giuliani drew a measly 200 while frontrunner Romney attracted 300 in Derry.
Poor Charlie Bass had this to say:
"The enthusiasm is definitely on the Democrats' side, still. I don't think there has been any change in the environment up here since the election last year," said former US representative Charles Bass, a Republican who lost his seat in the Democratic wave in November.
The interest and enthusiasm in this purple state are very promising for Dems.