NASHUA, NH — More than 1,000 people were snaked around the lobby of Nashua Community College early Sunday morning, free tickets in hand, waiting for admission into the college gymnasium which was already crawling with reporters, all waiting for Hillary Clinton.
Clinton’s appearance caps off a tight and contentious race for the New Hampshire U.S. Senate seat, between incumbent Jeanne Shaheen and her Republican opponent, Scott Brown.
“Anything could happen on Election Day — New Hampshire is a purple state, it’s very elastic,” said Ray Buckley, as he prepared for Clinton’s stop in Nashua, in support of Shaheen, who has been in full “fight to the finish” mode as the final weekend of campaigning before Election Day wraps up.
Clinton was expected to stop and pay respects to former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who died Oct 30, before heading to Nashua, according to media reports.
On Sunday, the NH GOP issued the following statement about Clinton’s appearance in Nashua:
“Jeanne Shaheen told us that President Obama couldn’t come here to campaign for her because he was too busy, so she brought in the next best thing – a former member of the Obama cabinet. Hillary Clinton and Jeanne Shaheen share one thing in common – they have both supported Obama’s failed leadership, which has left America weaker at home and around the world. To change direction, we need to change senators. Scott Brown is an independent leader who will be a check and balance on Obama, not a blank check like Jeanne Shaheen.”
The NH GOP has done its best to tie Shaheen to President Obama’s “failed” policies, with new ad campaigns hitting the airwaves on immigration policies that would threaten U.S. jobs.
Meanwhile, the Democrats have been reinforcing Brown’s lack of understanding for New Hampshire and its issues, hoping voters will stick with Shaheen, who has also served the state as governor.
For New Hampshire voters, it was a weekend of dueling bus tours, as Brown’s campaign had planned to make 50 stops around the state on the “GOP Victory for NH” tour bus.
A final stop for Brown’s entourage is set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Wiggins Airways in Manchester, featuring Brown, gubernatorial candidate Walt Havenstein, congressional candidates Marilinda Garcia and Frank Guinta, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, and Gov. John H. Sununu and son, Sen. John E. Sununu, with a special performance planned by Brown’s oldest daughter, Ayla Brown.
