That's a shame. I guess the old stereotype about quaint towns and rural areas being solidy Republican is long gone, at least in northern New England. I wonder how much longer Sens Gregg and Sununu can last.
As recently as 1988 NH went heavily Republican for president. Was it all an influx of lefties from other states that turned the state competitive, or even leaning Dem? Or is it perhaps a question of wimpy "moderate" Republicans believing the evil "Christian right" is going to overtake our lives? I think that is a problem in many suburban towns here in CT that used to lean Republican. Now a lot of moderate voters think Pat Buchanan and Pat Robertson run the GOP. Nonsense.
I used to think it was the influx of immigrants - but in the last election - the 'south' where most of the immigrants live went pretty solidly Republican (except for places like Nashua and Keene) and it was the 'north of the notches' crowd that pushed the state into the Blue camp. There were a lot of wimpy Republicans that felt the national party had ignored them during the campaign, so they sat on their hands. I think NH has gone pretty soft, there are those who think that is why the 'Old Man of Mountains' crumbled - it was said that it was a sign from God that he made men in New Hampshire - that appears to be false advertising now.