Chris Dodd for President

The Dodd squad is now officially open for business in Concord. We’re located at Concord Square on 75 South Main Street and can be reached at 226-3660. Everyone is welcomed to stop by and pick up some literature, to sign up to volunteer, or just to say hello. Thanks to all of our wonderful supporters who donated supplies and furniture.

On Saturday, the Dodd Squad was present for a Concord City Democrats fundraiser at the IBEW Hall in Concord. In attendance was a great showing of Dodd supporters, including Beth Campbell, Rep. Mary Stuart Gile, City Democrats Chair Erika Thorsell, and City Democrats Secretary John Hattan. The big news out of the event was that John Hattan was honored with the 2007 Concord City Democrats Service Award. John is a tremendous guy who has been a great asset to the City Dems and a great supporter of Senator Dodd. He helped us get the office up and running by donating furniture and he donates his time every week to make phone calls on behalf of the campaign. Thank you, John, for all your hard work!

We are excited to be canvassing Laconia, this Saturday, October 6th. Please call 226-2660 or e-mail at sstephanou@chrisdodd.com for more details. If you are unable to make Saturday’s canvass, there are many more ways to help Senator Dodd throughout Merrimack County and the Lakes Region so get in touch with the Concord office to find out how to get involved.

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!