The Hill: N.H. Senate hopeful thinks voters will see his work ethic, not his age

[Adlai Stevenson]

By Sam Youngman
March 06, 2007

Washington policy advocate David Nassar remembers working with Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand in 2002 as the two tried to get Democratic state Sen. Mark Fernald elected governor of New Hampshire.

They lost that race. But Nassar said it left a lasting impression on him all the same, thanks to his friend’s work ethic.
Marchand, who just turned 33 in January, is now preparing to challenge Republican Sen. John Sununu. And the young mayor says his tireless work habit is just one of the assets he’s bringing to the race.

As a case in point, Nassar points to Marchand’s first city council race in Portsmouth, when the underdog candidate went to the Portsmouth City Clerk’s office and got a copy of the town’s voter file. Using Microsoft Excel, Marchand revised and updated the list before going door to door to identify voters and introduce himself.

“Because there really wasn’t a very good list available, Steve built it himself,” Nassar said. “Very few people would’ve done them both and done them well.”

In a phone interview with The Hill, Marchand said he is ready to apply statewide the same techniques and hard work that took him from the city council to the mayor’s office.

Marchand describes himself as a fiscal conservative and a social progressive, and he speaks passionately and at length about his ideas — from fighting the war on terror to revamping the payroll tax.

Despite his tender age, Marchand insists he has the policy background, the grassroots network and the fundraising abilities to compete against a senator with a popular last name and enough money to bury his opponents.

The mayor filed to run last month, and he has hired Dave Mason, who served as finance director for Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) in his successful race against Republican Rep. Charlie Bass last year.

Given that Sununu will likely raise staggering funds in his reelection bid — the Club for Growth endorsed the senator in February — Marchand said it is important to get in the race early to start raising money.

“I think this race might’ve accelerated a lot sooner than some might’ve guessed,” he said.

And before taking on Sununu, Marchand is almost assured of a primary challenge.

Former congressional candidate Katrina Swett, whose husband Dick is a former ambassador popular in New England, has already filed to run, and a number of other names have been mentioned as potential candidates, including Stonyfield Yogurt CEO Gary Hirschberg.

But Marchand said he doesn’t anticipate a nasty primary fight, as the field will unite around the ultimate goal of defeating Sununu.

If either Gov. John Lynch or former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen jumps in, however, Marchand said he would “step aside and say, ‘What can I do to help you?’”

Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire GOP, said that the lingering uncertainty about those two heavyweight names could present problems for candidates like Marchand and Swett as they seek to line up early support.

“I suspect they’re getting a lot of half-commitments from people,” Cullen said.

He added that Marchand, whose accomplishments seem impressive at such a young age, has yet to be challenged on a statewide stage.

Cullen pointed out there is no at-large citywide race for mayor of Portsmouth. Instead, the city councilman who garners the most votes gets the title. Furthermore, the mayor’s position in the small but heavily Democratic seaside town is relatively weak, overshadowed by the importance and responsibilities of the city manager.

“Sen. Sununu is a tested candidate who has been through some very tough races in the past,” Cullen said.

For his part, Marchand has already directly targeted Sununu on Iraq. In a release after the Senate’s recent failed cloture vote to debate the non-binding Iraq resolution passed by the House, he charged that Sununu’s vote against cloture was “radically out-of-touch with the people of New Hampshire.”

Marchand also points to the two most recent elections in the Granite State as favorable signs. Voters went for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) over President Bush in 2004. The 2006 midterms saw Hodes beat Bass, while little-known candidate Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley.

He said those midterm results “created a choice for Sen. Sununu, and that choice was to move to the values of the New Hampshire people or continue to move to the values of President Bush.”

Marchand said he opposes the proposed troop surge and favors drawing down troops in Iraq over the next one to two years. He would pare back funding “commensurately” with the troop withdrawals.

He said he does not support a complete withdrawal but a stabilization plan for Iraq that is more akin to the Marshall Plan following World War II. But he admits it may be too late for such an action in a country in the midst of what he describes as a civil war.

“We did break it, so we did buy it,” Marchand said, but added, “I’m not sure our presence is helping to alleviate or resolve the many problems Iraq has and will continue to have.”

He said he would insist on continuing a tough fight in the war on terror, but one that involves redeployment to other countries like Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Sununu’s office said the senator has not been afraid to break with the president on a number of issues like the Patriot Act, the federal marriage amendment, Medicare Part D and the highway bill. As for the Iraq resolution vote, Sununu argues that he voted against cloture primarily because Democrats were not going to allow debate on any alternative GOP measures.

“I have been critical of several aspects of the administration’s policy in Iraq and the Middle East; but our goal should be to get the policy right without partisan grandstanding,” he said in a statement issued at the time.

As for the 2008 contest, Sununu’s office has responded with the same statement for months.

“As they have always been, our campaign in 2008 will be an aggressive town to town, person to person effort — strong on grassroots organization and focused on the issues that matter most to New Hampshire citizens,” the statement reads.
Marchand concedes that he has a tough row to hoe, raising money, meeting voters in a statewide campaign, and convincing them he has the experience to serve in the Senate.

But his age, he says, should not be a concern.

Sununu, Marchand points out, is currently the youngest member of the Senate at 42, so voters may get to pick between the youngest United States senator and the youngest candidate.

http://thehill.com/content/view/64602/31/

[Democratic Hawk]

Age should be no barrier to seeking elected office providing the candidate for said office has reached the minimum age to sit, in this case, if elected to the Senate

I believe Joe Biden was 29 when he was first elected to represent Delaware but was eligible because he turned 30 before he took his seat and oath of office

Young candidates should be positively encouraged to stand whether Democrat or Republican

Should Marchand run for the Democratic nomination, in the event of Lynch or Shaheen not running, to challenge Sununu then good luck to him

Dave

[Verily]

If I remember what I've heard correctly, Marchand is considered one of the top contenders for the seat, so all power to him.

[WalterMitty]

sacrificial lamb.

[TheresNoMoney]

I've met Marchand and he's a really good guy. He would also fit the state very well.

Gary Hirshberg announced yesterday that (for the time being), he is not going to run.  He said things could possibly change between now and the election, but it looks more likely like he'll run in 2010 against Gregg or possibly for Governor.
 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

[TheresNoMoney]

When it comes to predicting elections, it's best to ignore everythign Walter Mitty says.

[WalterMitty]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

jim webb was a sacrificial lamb!

you actually think webb won that race?  allen LOST the race.

big difference.

i hope webb and brown enjoy their one term in the senate.  both will be gone in 2012

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

jim webb was a sacrificial lamb!

you actually think webb won that race?  allen LOST the race.

big difference.

i hope webb and brown enjoy their one term in the senate.  both will be gone in 2012

Just like Mark Kennedy was going to win, Casey was going to lose, Blackwell was going to defeat the "silly populist" Strickland, and Patrick was never going to win, right?

[WalterMitty]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

jim webb was a sacrificial lamb!

you actually think webb won that race?  allen LOST the race.

big difference.

i hope webb and brown enjoy their one term in the senate.  both will be gone in 2012

Just like Mark Kennedy was going to win, Casey was going to lose, Blackwell was going to defeat the "silly populist" Strickland, and Patrick was never going to win, right?

the democrat had a good election.

and the weaker ones that were carried in to office by the tide (brown, webb and others) will be gone after one term.

im actually not that bummed that kennedy lost.  klobuchar isnt that bad.

deval patrick.  ugh.  he is already making an ass out of himself.  cant say im surprised.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

and the weaker ones that were carried in to office by the tide (brown, webb and others) will be gone after one term.

Brown got over 56%. he's not weak.

im actually not that bummed that kennedy lost.  klobuchar isnt that bad.

You said she was too inexperienced and thus was going to lose, and was just a divorce attorney (which she was very far from of course). What makes that funny though is you were saying that when she was up by double digits.

And what about how Blackwell was going to crush that "silly populist" Strickland and Casey would lose for the same reason? (Because supposedly both Ohio and Pennsylvania absolutely HATE HATE HATE populists)

[Padfoot]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

jim webb was a sacrificial lamb!

you actually think webb won that race?  allen LOST the race.

big difference.

i hope webb and brown enjoy their one term in the senate.  both will be gone in 2012

You can't say you predict Brown will be gone when he's already announced that he isn't going to seek re-election.  As for Webb you are right in saying that it was Allen's race to lose and that Webb was initially offered up as a sacrifice.  A lot can happen in 6 years though and if Northern Virginia continues to morph into liberal DC suburbs Webb will be difficult to dislodge.

The NH Democrat is not a sacrificial lamb though seeing as how the Democrats have already announced that Sununu is one of their top three targets in 2008.  I'm not saying Sununu will lose, I'm just pointing out that Democrats are already planning an agressive campaign against Sununu and it is unlikely they'll send in someone they don't think has a decent chance of beating him.

[Mr.Phips]

sacrificial lamb.

haha, you said the exact same thing about Jim Webb.

jim webb was a sacrificial lamb!

you actually think webb won that race?  allen LOST the race.

big difference.

i hope webb and brown enjoy their one term in the senate.  both will be gone in 2012

Brown will be there as long as he wants.   Ohio has almost always sent a populist Democrat to the Senate, remember Howard Metzenbaum? 

[TheresNoMoney]

You can't say you predict Brown will be gone when he's already announced that he isn't going to seek re-election. 

What are you talking about?

[CPT MikeyMike]

deval patrick.  ugh.  he is already making an ass out of himself.  cant say im surprised.

What does MA think of him overall? I got a gut feeling he's going to be a one term governor.

[CPT MikeyMike]

??

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

What's amusing is that he's actually a tad on the young side of the optimal age to be the grandson of the last Democratic nominee for US Senator from New Hampshire.

[Rob]

What does MA think of him overall? I got a gut feeling he's going to be a one term governor.

63 percent approve, according to SUSA.

[WalterMitty]

What does MA think of him overall? I got a gut feeling he's going to be a one term governor.

63 percent approve, according to SUSA.

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

What does MA think of him overall? I got a gut feeling he's going to be a one term governor.

63 percent approve, according to SUSA.

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

Well obviously he's not going to be treated as nicely by the press as some scandal ridden white Republican actor or something.

[Rob]

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

Someone posted this in response to a conservative blogger's attack on that issue:

You expected Governor Patrick to have an unfurnished office? Because this is what this boils down to. Since Romney took the furniture from the office with him, it had to be replaced. For that reason, this will blow over (whatever your "friends" say).

Expect Patrick to be easily reelected as long as he wants the office. After all, the GOoPers don't have anyone to run against him, since they have no statewide officeholders left in the Commonwealth, and a whopping 12% of the legislature.

He's right.

[WalterMitty]

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

Someone posted this in response to a conservative blogger's attack on that issue:

You expected Governor Patrick to have an unfurnished office? Because this is what this boils down to. Since Romney took the furniture from the office with him, it had to be replaced. For that reason, this will blow over (whatever your "friends" say).

Expect Patrick to be easily reelected as long as he wants the office. After all, the GOoPers don't have anyone to run against him, since they have no statewide officeholders left in the Commonwealth, and a whopping 12% of the legislature.

He's right.

i think expecting tax payers to pay $1100 a month to provide you a car (almost double that of previous governors) and $10k for drapes, and a 70K per year assistant for your wife, is a bit excessive.

patrick thinks rather highly of himself

oh and just today...it comes to light that patrick is using his influence to help some loan sharks (that he used to 'work' for)

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/03/patrick_regrets_1.html

[Gabu]

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

Someone posted this in response to a conservative blogger's attack on that issue:

You expected Governor Patrick to have an unfurnished office? Because this is what this boils down to. Since Romney took the furniture from the office with him, it had to be replaced. For that reason, this will blow over (whatever your "friends" say).

Expect Patrick to be easily reelected as long as he wants the office. After all, the GOoPers don't have anyone to run against him, since they have no statewide officeholders left in the Commonwealth, and a whopping 12% of the legislature.

He's right.

i think expecting tax payers to pay $1100 a month to provide you a car (almost double that of previous governors) and $10k for drapes, and a 70K per year assistant for your wife, is a bit excessive.

patrick thinks rather highly of himself

oh and just today...it comes to light that patrick is using his influence to help some loan sharks (that he used to 'work' for)

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/03/patrick_regrets_1.html

How do you spend $10,000 on drapes?  Are they solid gold?

[WalterMitty]

he is getting a lot of bad press over the cadillac episode and $10,000 drapes.

im not so sure he will be a one term governor.  he can totally screw up, but the republicans really dont have any one to run that can win statewide.

Someone posted this in response to a conservative blogger's attack on that issue:

You expected Governor Patrick to have an unfurnished office? Because this is what this boils down to. Since Romney took the furniture from the office with him, it had to be replaced. For that reason, this will blow over (whatever your "friends" say).

Expect Patrick to be easily reelected as long as he wants the office. After all, the GOoPers don't have anyone to run against him, since they have no statewide officeholders left in the Commonwealth, and a whopping 12% of the legislature.

He's right.

i think expecting tax payers to pay $1100 a month to provide you a car (almost double that of previous governors) and $10k for drapes, and a 70K per year assistant for your wife, is a bit excessive.

patrick thinks rather highly of himself

oh and just today...it comes to light that patrick is using his influence to help some loan sharks (that he used to 'work' for)

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/03/patrick_regrets_1.html

How do you spend $10,000 on drapes?  Are they solid gold?

that is a good question.

i was listening to a talk radio show and they called an expert in the field.  and she said the job could have been done for $3,000 or so, still a bit excessive, but better than 10.

[Gabu]

that is a good question.

i was listening to a talk radio show and they called an expert in the field.  and she said the job could have been done for $3,000 or so, still a bit excessive, but better than 10.

Even $3,000 seems like an infathomably large amount amount for drapes.

Maybe I'm underestimating how many windows there are in the governor's mansion or something.