CONCORD, N.H. (AllPolitics, Oct. 30) -- Democrats have rarely had a better shot at the top job in the Granite State, which has boasted Democratic governors in only four of the past 28 years. The Republican incumbent, two-term Gov. Stephen Merrill, opted not to seek re-election this year despite widespread popularity.
State Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Democratic nominee, is doing well in part because she appears to have figured out the key issue of taxes better than other recent Democratic nominees. That may allow her to convince voters that she is more in sync with them than is Republican Ovide Lamontagne.
Shaheen has pledged to veto a broad-based sales or income tax. But she remains open to the idea of legalizing video poker and raising cigarette taxes to fund schools (proposals that previously have failed in the state General Court). She said she would insist that any money raised that way would be given over directly to localities to fund primary education.
Lamontagne has drawn some fire for siding with social conservatives who are opposed to "Goals 2000," a federal program that offers states education grants to meet a set of national standards, when he was in his former job as chairman of the state Board of Education.
He takes a harder line against tax increases than Shaheen, adding, "On social issues, she's clearly a liberal." Lamontagne opposes abortion rights, which Shaheen supports. He trumpets the endorsements of law enforcement officers and contends that Shaheen is too soft on crime.
In response to Lamontagne's statements that she favors broad government control of health care, Shaheen said she instead supports an incremental approach, claiming a key role in the enactment of a state law that mirrors, and anticipated, the Kassebaum-Kennedy legislation on pre-existing conditions.
Congressional Quarterly contributed to this report.