Kenney blames state GOP for defeat
By Brian Lawson, PolitickerNH.com ReporterState Sen. Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield) says that the New Hampshire Republican Party did not do enough to assist him in his gubernatorial campaign against Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton).
"From the beginning, the state Republican Party backed away from challenging Gov. John Lynch," Kenney wrote in an op-ed piece in The Union Leader. "When I made my decision to run, Lynch was on the verge of a free ride. Republicans suggested he might end up the Republican nominee. I could not stand on the sidelines and watch this happen."
Kenney says his campaign was not provided with an office that had telephone lines and was only provided one staffer, as opposed to the two staffers Kenney had requested.
Kenney also said that the party only did one mailer for his campaign, was not included on call scripts to voters and failed to present a major Republican figure to campaign on his behalf.
Kenney lost to Lynch by 289,758 votes.
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He's right...
Joe was a sacrificial lamb. The current Republican party "leadership" in this state with one notable exception in Sean Mahoney (and he's not really a state guy anyway), is a joke. Republicans in this state have lost their way and have given up the high ground of fiscal conservatism that they once held.
Senator Kenney Should Have Seen the Writing on the Wall
Senator Kenney, an experienced legislator should have known that he was going to be thrown to the wolves by the state's Republican leadership that clearly recongized the popularity of the incumbent Lynch and the futility of throwing any mu$cle or $upport into the race. He should be applauded for at least placing his name on the ticket rather than throwing in the towel like the rest of the Republicans did. Hopefully, he's earned a well-deserved amount of respect and admiration amongst his party members...if not, the Republicans in NH are in even more trouble than I thought.
I thought
the GOP was the party of personal responsibility, yet no Republican ever seems to take any!
Ultimately, the campaign was Joe's responsibility. If he didn't have enough staff - he should have raised money to hire staff. If he felt cheated on mailers - he should have sent out his own. Sitting around and crying that the party didn't help him is an excuse for running a largely invisible campaign that lacked any kind of charisma and inspired no interest.
Ouch
Susan,
Be nice to the guy. He totally took one for the team. Either he was very naive or he simply took the hit. I don't think he is naive.
That said, the NHGOP seems to be trying to find its way. Likely Kenney is just adding fuel to the fire.
I'd suggest we stand back and watch it blaze.
H/T on the "the party of personal responsibility." That was perfect!
I stand corrected
The quote of the day here on PolitickerNH has Kenney in the UL saying:
What happened to loyalty being valued in our party before money, jobs or influence?"
Seems he was naive.
Joe, what Republican Party do you belong to?
Does the name Dick Cheney ring a bell?
Good luck with the soul searching folks.
No, really.
Reagan style Republicans?
Would that be Republicans who would try to perpetuate supply side economics - which have been proven a failure?
Or perhaps Republicans who would push for the kind of deregulation that has nearly ruined our economy?
Or maybe the kind of Republicans who would trade arms for hostages, and be responsible for funding terrorism in South America?
Tell us, GOP Volunteer, what exactly is a Reagan style Republican?
As long as the GOP continues to live in the past, it has no future.
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