This is very, very good news from Democrat Ann McLane Kuster (best known as Annie) – as long as you aren’t named Charlie Bass:
To fight for good jobs, to protect the fragile economic recovery, and to invest in strengthening our country’s future, this week I am taking the first steps to begin a campaign for U.S. Congress in 2012.
I’ll make a more formal announcement next year, but I’m not willing to sit on the sidelines until then – I’m going to roll up my sleeves and start working today.
Kuster suffered one of the most heart-breaking defeats last year, losing to Bass by just 1.6%. (In fact, this was the second-closest open seat loss in the nation for Dems, after WV-01.) The strength of the GOP tide in the rest of the state last year shows just how weak a candidate Bass really is – and how strong a campaign Kuster ran. So I’m really excited that she’ll be getting back in the game (and hopefully, she won’t have to face another primary from the likes of DLCer Katrina Swett). I’m also pleased to see that Kuster has every intention of sticking to a strong progressive message. From the same announcement:
I am a frugal Yankee and I believe we need to cut wasteful government spending – like the billions in subsidies for oil companies, the corporate tax breaks for moving jobs overseas, and the billions more spent on redundant weapons systems that our military leaders have identified as wasteful and unneeded. But instead of these cuts, the US House of Representatives is cutting what we need most: education, public safety, and the clean energy research that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. It makes no sense.
More like this, please.
So 2010 wasn’t Kuster’s last stand.
Considering the 2010 margin, she can and should win in 2012 with a strong campaign.
“The terrorists want the Democrats to win!”
(Fun fact: He actually said that before losing back in 2006.)
I did a few days of volunteer work for her last fall, and it was heart-breaking how narrowly she lost. She is at the very top of my list of candidates I wanted to see running again in 2012, so I was thrilled to hear from her that she is going to run again. She’ll be a great member of Congress.
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What is up with candidate recruitment in NH-1? Much as I like Shea-Porter, she always struck me as a weak fundraiser and campaigner, so I’m not sure she would be the ideal candidate for a rematch. Any other names being circulated that people have heard?
Our political action committee endorsed her in 2010 and I did some canvassing for her in Keane the weekend before the primary. She had a really impressive volunteer operation from what I saw. And of course she’s great on all the issues.
If 2012 is in any way a decent year for the Democrats, NH-2 will be a pickup. D+3 seat with a very strong candidate, in a district where Obama will probably romp.
Bass doesn’t seem that popular, his narrow margin in a Republican year seems proof of that.
is very good news 🙂
btw, is it “kooster” or “custer” ?
– strongest possible candidate. Good pedigree, good race in bad 2010. If 2012 will be at least somewhat better then 2010(and, most likely – it will), and if right-wingers will at least partially sabotage a relatiely moderate Bass (and most likely – they will) – you have an excellent takeover possibility
And this is definitely one seat where redistricting is going to have a marginal at best effect. Making this more Republican makes NH-01, which is already shaky for Republicans, even more vulnerable.
Bout damn time someone stood up and said, we’re fiscally responsible, too, and we are better at yet than the GOP. ::nods:: Yes, yes we are.