Omigod!

[_dynamicdems]

Okay, I don't like this source, but it is an interesting article about the Baines rally on Saturday. TayTay and I saw the protesters for Guinta lined up across the street, but there weren't any bullhorns or any Baines people on our side of the street. At that time, everyone must have been still inside with Senator Kerry.

From this article, it is obvious that there was a plant inside the Baines rally because I haven't read any public accounts of the words they quote here from Senator Kerry. And what is even more surprising is that is seems to be a somewhat fair treatment. What a day for surprises...first the Union Leader, now this.

Looking to be a very nasty race. If it is close, there will be lawyers and recounts galore.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1516903/posts

Kerry stumps for Baines, as legal filings fly (Sexual Harassment; Do-Not-Call allegations
PoliticsNH.com ^ | November 6, 2005 | James W. Pindell

Posted on 11/06/2005 2:19:34 PM PST by Gondring

MANCHESTER, Nov. 6 - U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) returned to New Hampshire Saturday to repay old political favors and to fire up Democrats here in advance of Tuesday's municipal elections.

His visit at a rally for Manchester Mayor Bob Baines, a Democrat, kicked off what was to become a day legal filings back and forth between Baines and his Republican opponent and an extensive get-out-the-vote efforts in cities around the state.

Kerry told the 200 or so at the event that voters are hungry for competence in government.

"What we saw in Katrina was the stripping away of the fakery of the spin," And it shows why these choices about mayor, about the schools are so critical to all of us. That guy Brownie, you know the Brownie guy, you are doing a heck-of-a-job Brownie.

" is to Katrina what Paul Bremer was to post-war Iraq planning what Paul Wolfowitz was to our troops being received with flowers what Dick Cheney is to visionary energy policy what Tom Delay is to ethics in government what George Bush is to mission accomplished," said Kerry.

Continuing Kerry said: "What we've seen to the approach of government is a Katrina approach to government with spin, fakery and not the truth," said Kerry. "What every community deserves is a mayor like Bob Baines."

Kerry just made this brief stop in Manchester before heading up to Vermont where he was keynoting a state Democratic fund-raising dinner.

In the fall of 2003 John Kerry found himself in the doldrums of his once poll-topping campaign. He recently earned the support of former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, but a staff shake-up was imminent. But when it seemed like nothing could go right in this campaign Baines endorsed him, a decision not easily forgot. Not only did Kerry pay for Baines's campaign manager in 2003, but it did so again this year. And at this critical time Kerry was back again for Baines, and this time at least, it appeared he actually intended to do that over promoting his own chances in 2008.

Outside the event Manchester Republicans chanted, held signs for Baines opponent Frank Guinta, and even used a bullhorn. The bullhorn got the police called on them, but their heckles brought out Baines supporters to counter-protest on opposite sides of a pretty deserted Elm Street this time of the day.

But later the Guinta campaign charged a Baines supporter and former cop sexually harassed two 17-year-old girls who went on to file a police report. The Baines campaign then sent a formal complaint to the state Attorney General's office alledging the Guinta campaign automatically called Manchester households with a negative message even if they were on the federal "Do Not Call" list, an act that became illegal under a 2003 law. The Guinta campaign doesn't disagree they made the phone calls, but does say they acted legally.

Kerry is the third potential presidential candidate to campaign with Baines this week. Last week U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Indiana) helped out Baines and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) headlined a fund-raiser for him on Tuesday.

James Pindell can be reached at [e-mail]

[Mass]

1. Did Kerry say these words?

If yes, it may be because politicsnh.com is interesting in actually reporting what happens in this race (with their natural political bias, of course).

What surprises me is why this was posted on freerepublic.com. Does the Manchester municipal race have this kind of importance.

It seems to me that the Guinta campaign is getting desperate if all they find to attack the campaign is the behaviour of a Baines supporter (certainly problematic, but except if I am missing something, how can this be counted against the mayor?).

[_dynamicdems]

4. Those were Senator Kerry's exact words...

about Brownie. I haven't seen that particular quote anywhere else, but I remember it because it got quite a laugh at he event.

It seems that the Republicans have chosen to make a stand in this race. Turf war in Manchester. Cock fight between the parties. I have no idea why. Does it have to do with revenge for turning NH blue last election? Does it have something to do with the 2008 elections? I'm not certain. The only thing I can tell you is that there is big money being put into Guinta's campaign. He's planting huge signs all over Manchester. Some of the signs look absolutely ridiculous in the front yards of tiny homes in modest neighborhoods.

And the campaign has gotten dirty on the Republican side. But not one word was said by either Senator Kerry or Mayor Baines against Alderman Guinta. Everything was about the good that Bob Baines has done for Manchester and how they are going to continue making the city even better. It was all very positive.

[karynnj]

2. It is a curious article in that it is fair to Kerry

Was this quote in any of the newspaper accounts? At any rate, if he/she was there - he/she behaved reasonably (or you guys would have known).

If readers dislike the Kerry portrayed here, at least they are rejecting him for hinself.

[_dynamicdems]

6. Writer of story on NHPR at 9AM this morning to discuss...

WHY this race is so important!

-9am, James Pindell of PoliticsNH.com, discusses 2005 city elections and how it leads to 2006 elections, NHPR's The Exchange.

PoliticsNH.com is pretty fair even if they do cover Gregg and Sununu with undeserved respect. There are a lot of interesting news items there today. What really surprised me that the first place I found the article was at a link to the Free Republic.

[TayTay]

3. I saw the protesters for the Repub across the street

but we are talking 5-10 people with signs. I didn't hear the bullhorn. DD and I stopped and had a coffee and pastry after the rally and by the time we left the pastry shop, the Repubs were gone. (My car keys had fallen out of my pocket and I had to go back to the Party HQ to retrieve them. I didn't see anyone in the walk up or back.)

[_dynamicdems]

5. Maybe this happened earlier.

I just assumed it excalated after we left, but maybe not.