Yesterday, I attended as a visitor the “Majority Party Convention” just over the border in Nashua. Compared to what we do it had more of the feel of a glorified DSC meeting. My admission price was just $25 (compared to $75 for ours – we really need to find a way to get ours down to no more than $50, but I digress) for which I got breakfast, lunch, and materials. There were 411 credentialed delegates seated by county in the auditorium of Nashua South High School. They do not nominate or endorse candidates, but did vote by ballot on several resolutions and the platform. I did not stick around to hear the results.
Two hours was taken for the speaking program. DNC Chair Kaine spoke, along with Governor Lynch, Senator Shaheen, Congresswoman Shea-Porter, Congressman Paul Hodes who is running for Senate, and Katrina Swett and Ann Kuster, who are vying to succeed Hodes. Best line came from Swett who refered incredulously to Charlie Bass’ aligning himself with the tea party, saying, “If he had been at Boston Harbor in 1775[sic] he would have been hitting up the East India Company for a campaign contribution!”
Everybody sat and listened to the speeches and business rather than talk amongst themselves like we often do. There was also a room set up with tables for candidates and causes. Also, NHDP Chair Ray Buckley was participating in a DNC rules committee meeting via his blackberry. At one point he announced (generating probably the most applause of the day) that the committee voted to allow NH to retain it’s coveted first primary for 2012.
We do have a somewhat unwieldy convention, don’t we? I suspect most of the cash goes to the few facilities that can hold the gathering.
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p>I wonder…has there ever been a poll taken of New Hampshire residents if they want their early primary? I mean, local politicians and businesses love it, but most voters I contact and/or see in the media are sick of the pestering.
In my experience, which is fairly extensive, NH voters take very seriously their responsibilty as the firdt in the nation primary. They appreciate the opportunity to get to see the candidates up close and personal. It is an opportunity that is available to any Mass. voter willing to travel to NH.
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p>But they are just like voters anywhere. Some are more interested than others.
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p>I found much more of an issue in the general. As a swing state, so near the “bluest of blue” states, most voters were contacted multiple times. I saw a level of “voter fatigue” in the 2008 election, especially in the last few days.
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p>Willing and able.
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p>Given that the distance is substantial for plenty of MA voters, and that plenty of MA voters don’t have personal transportation, and given that many MA voters work five or more days per week during the day, limiting the events for which they could attend… the and able portion is not insignificant.
Bob, kudos for your promotion comment.
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p>There was a good discussion last year on the differences between the NH convention and Mass convention and the alternatives that the NHDP has for raising money.
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p>FrankSkeffington (RIP) explained…
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p>Just a reminder that registered Democrats can attend the Convention at $25 and volunteers attend at no charge. The MDP does need volunteers! It is a great way to take part in a fascinating event.
…which discussed the reasons for the difference in rates. The convention should do no more than pay for itself and not be a fundraiser for the party. We should more aggressively hit up campaigns, especially statewide, to sponsor the convention. That would mean possibly reworking the whole annual fundraising plan. I know there are ways to get the fee waived in whole or part, but we shouldn’t have to jump through those hopes. I strongly believe as a matter of fundamental democratic principles people should not have to pay to participate in the process. Poll taxes are unconstitutional for a reason and given that the delegates have a say in possibly keeping candidates off the ballot, thus affecting the ability of the people to make a choice, this delegate fee is essentially a poll tax instituted by the party. Technically legal I suppose, but grossly unfair, and raises the same private vs. public entity arguments which gave rise to the “white primary”.
It seems that the convention can only be held in some 5 spaces or so because of its large number of participants. Yet those facilities are far too large for the convention…I imagine the price is, as well.
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p>To what degree would the number of participants need to be cut before we could fit into an echelon of smaller spaces?
…and the sense of not being valued as a delegate that does sometimes ensue as a result of the whole experience… we repeat delegates really are a dedicated group. The experience is absolutely exhausting and fairly uncomfortable but I am committed to representing both my town and the almost voiceless folk I often represent in court.
it doesn’t take a genius to observe that a convention located on mass transit in Boston would allow for the greatest number of conventioneers to travel to and from on mass transit. But, convention space in Boston is apparently too expensive to even consider hosting it in Boston.
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p>It’s not the end of the world since there’s typically plenty of carpooling opportunity, but still… it kind of irks me.
…are also reasonably accessible via the Commuter Rail. I know Lowell pulls out all the stops to make sure its own bus service, the LRTA, can accomodate delegates needs. Of course, this still leaves the western part of the state high and dry.