Free Republic

– Nearly one in four potential voters statewide didn't live in New Hampshire in 2000, according to a University of New Hampshire report released yesterday, a fact that could have strong implications for next month's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. While New Hampshire's population has remained relatively steady, growing by 21,000 from 2001 to 2005, the actual migration patterns have been anything but, according to a demographic report from UNH's Carsey Institute. During that time period, 210,000 people moved into the state while 189,000 moved out, with a full 78,000 coming from Massachusetts. "I'm sort of stunned at the volume that produced...

Nearly nine of 10 readers who participated in an online survey believe that southern New Hampshire is becoming more like Massachusetts -- and most are not happy about it.Eighty-four percent of the nearly 900 people who took part in the informal UnionLeader.com survey are concerned that the "traditional culture" of New Hampshire is changing as people move here from other states -- including 63 percent who are "very" concerned. Only 10 percent were "not very concerned," while six percent were "not concerned at all."Asked what the biggest change has been, more than half answered "politics." About 28 percent said it...

IF BLUE-STATE Californians want to give the national Republican Party palpitations, here's some practical advice: Go east, young man (or woman). Just not too far east. In fact, you might try right next door. Any one of the eight red to purple states of the nation's interior West — Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah or Wyoming — would do just fine. Although California's 55 electoral votes have proved impotent to thwart the rise of a big-government-loving, big-religion-thumping GOP, the California diaspora into some of our nation's least populous states is looking like it just might do the...

FOUR years ago, Rachel Meek of Poquott and Brian Carrillo of East Setauket were living in their parents' homes. Having dated for a year and a half, they hoped to share an apartment on the Island and started looking at one-bedroom rentals nearby. "The prices were just outrageous," recalled Mr. Carrillo, 29. "If we rented, 80 percent of our salary would go to rent." During a vacation in Florida in the Tampa Bay area, they decided to scout out apartments. "We looked at Florida as something that was definitely doable," said Mr. Carrillo, who had lost his job in the...