Chris Dodd for President

I wrote this last night on a flight back from New Hampshire to Washington. I lived in New Hampshire during the 2000 election cycle. I was a high school senior and during the primary season I got to meet and talk to just about every presidential candidate of both parties (though not George Bush and Al Gore). The experience of living in New Hampshire during a presidential primary taught me a clear lesson: the citizens of New Hampshire take their role as the first primary in the nation incredibly seriously. The dedication of the people of New Hampshire to the primary process manifests itself through diligent listening to every candidate's words and attention to their actions, followed by asking tough, thoughtful questions of the candidate. Saturday's house parties in Laconia, Barrington, and Portsmouth bore out my memories of the New Hampshire primary process. Great crowds showed up to hear Senator Dodd talk and at each event, people responded with detailed comments and probing questions - questions that seek to clarify any confusion that may exist about where a candidate stands on a particular issue. I had a great time watching the people of Laconia, Barrington, and Portsmouth engage Senator Dodd to learn more about who he is and what he stands for. For his part, I know that Senator Dodd loves being challenged to show his convictions by voters. Their questions are one of the truest articulations of patriotism in America, as they expressions of sincere concern about who will next lead our country at a time when boldness and honesty is sorely needed. I look forward to getting back to the Granite State (or, as Dodd campaign NH field director Dana Kelly pointed out, the state with the official flower of the purple lilac) soon to watch the introduction of Senator Dodd to the people of New Hampshire continue. I'll be posting videos from the trip over the next few days. Also, Jerid of Buckeye State Blog, who's in New Hampshire this summer to cover the primary, was in attendance at Laconia and has a great write-up on Sen. Dodd's talk; go check it out!