Posted on 03/13/2015 4:59:12 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Jeb Bush and Scott Walker both land in New Hampshire today — but this is Walker’s state to lose. Bush is all name, Walker is all game.
The last time the former Florida governor spent any real time politicking in the Granite State, the Old Man of the Mountain was intact.
But time and erosion took their toll. That natural marvel crumbled in 2003, leaving only memories and photos of better days to preserve the legend.
Sound familiar, Jeb?
If anyone is still showing up in the old viewing sites in Franconia, it is for nostalgia’s sake. Likewise, some Granite Staters will show up for this weekend, if only for nostalgia’s sake.
New Hampshire has never really been Bush country. Jeb’s brother, George W., lost the first-in-the-nation primary to Arizona Sen. John McCain in 2000. Ronald Reagan took out their dad in 1980.
Both Bushes lost to men hovering around 70 years of age. Scott Walker is 47, and he is sharp, vibrant and fresh. The optics of the Wisconsin governor — who kept his cool against hordes of angry labor activists in Madison — were of a lone warrior who toppled a giant without benefit of birthright or political pedigree.
New Hampshire voters and pols have cable, and they saw that.
But a crucial factor, rarely poll-tested, that puts Walker in good stead with Granite State Republicans is remarkably unscientific. He just has more in common with people in the 603 area code than Jeb does.
Walker lives in a miserably cold state on the 43rd latitude parallel — just like they do. He is an avid hunter, which plays well in a state with heavily perforated rural road signs — the work of overly exuberant Second Amendment enthusiasts.
He is a powerful snowmobile advocate — yes, snowmobile — and has made a point of cultivating and preserving trails in his state. I know in Cambridge, those might as well be X-Wing Fighter trails, but in Laconia, N.H., snowmobiling means something.
When Jeb Bush nervously stumbled around CPAC last month, enduring the requisite exercise to impress the party’s most energetic faction, it reminded many of his father looking at his watch during a debate with Bill Clinton.
Sure, Jeb’ll do fine in a room full of GOP money movers, but can he relate to fussy New Hampshire voters who demand legitimacy and respect? We’ve seen how they feel about interlopers in New Hampshire — just ask Scott Brown.
At some point, Bush will mention all the snowfall records this winter. Walker won’t. Parts of Wisconsin get 100 inches every year.
New Hampshire is already second nature, and a second home, to Scott Walker.
N.H. GOP honcho: Ted Cruz ‘will not darken our doorstep’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3267325/posts
When can Cruz set up his exploratory committee and start fundraising?
I like Cruz a lot from what I can tell about him. But after yesterday, unless something changes, I wouldn't be unhappy with a Walker candidacy.
Scott Walker: Our American Revival
He is also very smooth and relaxed with aggressive media interviewers, has a positive record of executive-level governance, has an ability to interact with common folk (since he came up as one of them, unlike Dauphin Bush), and is more battle-tested than any GOPer in recent history.
Further... he's a fearless and aggressive political fighter -- in fact he not only can do battle, he relishes the opportunity... and unlike many Repubs, is won't be awed or daunted by the likes of Hillary Clinton.
I have reservations about Cruz due to his wife’s CFR connections....
The Old Man's demise was a suicide...he looked down on all the cars with Assachusetts and New Yuck plates and gave up the ghost.
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