In the motel lobby, we met Jeb's cousins, President George H. W. Bush's first cousin. They both went to school in New Hampshire. We followed them out into the field to go door-to-door talking to voters.
New technology this race includes an iPhone app that gave us an online map and survey. While the answer choices leave no room for notes are not likely to yield accurate polling data, the app does get you out talking to voters and is probably more efficient than paper maps and lists. We had a state map, but no neighborhood street maps. Without seeing the back end of what goes into the technology, it looks easier to organize than assembling lists, maps and scripts for hundreds of volunteers. The campaign assigns walkbooks to your phone.
The neighborhood we canvased was positive. Some were voting for Jeb, one had made up his mind for someone, wouldn't say who, but probably not Jeb, some were not for Trump, a few undecided between Jeb and Marco Rubio.
Rubio and Cruz are my age. Bill Kristol's prediction that the next President would be one of the new, young Senators is regaining credibility. It is also the age and stage of Barack Obama when he was elected. There is still time for younger candidates to gain a few more years of knowledge, experience and maturity. I loved Rubio's debate answer to this -- elect Joe Biden, he's the oldest!
Jeb does have more experience. As much as some people don't want to elect a family member of past Presidents, his legacy of sound foreign policy, free trade and a network of people who know how to govern is worth electing.
When Jeb was elected Governor of Florida, I worked for another newly-elected Governor. It was a good year for Republican Governors and Jeb was one of the best. Florida lead the country in economic growth.
The first time I heard him speak, newly-elected in Miami, his phone went off at the podium. Cell phones were relatively new to the mass market and ringers going off when they shouldn't was a big deal. "Hello? You're looking for Jeb Bush, the [axe murderer, or whatever his opponent was accusing him of in the bitter-end ads]? Sorry, wrong number!" He has a sense of humor in greeting this policy conference then-called "Dark Ages Weekend", a spoof of the Democrats' "Renaissance Weekend" where Bill Clinton was discovered. Absolutely no one was discovered at Dark Ages Weekend. I later heard one of the organizers started it just to find a husband. Absolutely no one found a husband there, either. There were some great speakers and panels, and Jeb's greeting was a big hit.
A diverse family, Jeb has faced some of the issues surrounding immigration in his own home. He has a serious wife interested in serious issues. I met his younger son campaigning for him at an event in New York.
Donald Trump articulates the fears Amercans share on immigration at this time in our nation's history. His statement in last nights debate on veterans is true. The year he served as Grand Marshall of the usually-overlooked Veterans Day Parade made it a big deal. Governor Pataki marched with him and everyone had a great day. He is capable of the part of the job of going to events and adding something special, namely, back then, Marla Maples. However, his proposed tariffs will raise the price of a pick-up-truck by $9000.
Ted Cruz is a great Congressman and conservative everybody loves. He was not only born in Canada, he lived there until age 4. Is this the time to break the clear constitutional rule that the President cannot be foreign-born? Who is next? An ISIS-born President? Cruz can run for President of Canada. They need him more than we do.
Did Bernie Sanders fill the Verizon arena in Manchester? This seems incredible in a primary. Half of his own State of Vermont has fled to New Hampshire, but why then would they sit in an arena and listen to him? Mitt Romney filled it before the general.
Friday morning, 500 people went to hear Barbara Bush speak. Jeb's town halls had crowds out the door.
The New Hampshire voters I phoned today said he did well in the debate. Rubio and Cruz were national debate champions, so this has been hard for Jeb. Some voters were definite, some undecided. Only one cursed at me.
No killer dog attacks. We had heard robbers were posing as campaigners, but we didn't see anyone running out with a pillow case full of jewelry.
It was a beautiful, sunny, cold, snowy New England day in the town my Colonial ancestor named Roberts settled after sailing from Dover, England. No time for genealogy, but I read up on him a little online. His farm was the longest continuously-family-owned farm in America. Though as Colonial Governor, he became sympathetic to Quakers, his sons drove, whipped and beat them out of Dover in the cold of Winter. In the spirit of his membership in the Fishmongers Guild, which sounds like the town crier, but was actually very prestigious in England, I hope the people of New Hampshire will vote this Tuesday on the values on which their state and country was founded. It is important enough to us to go up there, call on you, and to ask for your vote.
While you are getting ready for the prom, or to watch the game, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.
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