New Hampshire's two Congressional races have drawn intense interest in the final days leading up to the November 7th election.
But while the state senate races might not enjoy the same exposure, some of them are as competitive as the contests at the top of the ballot.
At stake may be control of the 24-seat chamber.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has this overview.
If you drive across the state, the Democratic strategy to seize control of the state senate starts becoming very clear.
In Antrim, in Meredith and in Somersworth the familiar blue and white of the John Lynch signs dot the landscape.
In an effort to take advantage of the governor's overwhelming popularity these signs list the governor's name at the top with the given senate candidate's name underneath.
Everyone wants to ride the Lynch train this year.
T.8
:18 I am delighted to support Deb Reynolds for state senate of this district. Having been governor for a couple of years, what I really want is more people to come to Concord who are willing to put partisan politics to one side, and make a difference of people's lives in the Granite State.
At this small Meredith café, Governor Lynch told the crowd Deb Reynolds is a person who can help him promote environmental legislation, make higher education more affordable, and reduce the cost of health care.
It's the kind of speech he's given in any number of the state's most competitive senate races.
For their part, the Democratic slate of candidates have lined up behind Lynch.
Ask most of them about education funding, and they almost always refer to Governor Lynch.
T.1
2:17 we are going to pay for it with what we have. The governor has made clear that he will veto a broad based tax.
That's Representative Jackie Cilley, who is running in the District 6 race against former Somersworth Mayor Jim McLin.
To Senate Majority Leader Republican Bob Clegg, comments like Cilley's are nothing more than 'we don't know exactly what we'll do, but we'll work with the governor. Trust Us.'
:31 ... They all put governor Lynch's picture on there and says, 'vote for me, I will be a rubber stamp on anything Governor Lynch wants.'
Even more galling to the GOP is that many Republican candidates are offering what they see as an actual solution to the funding crisis.
They back a constitutional amendment to remove the courts from the equation.
But in spite of the fuzzy promises to fix the state's perennial issue, members from both parties agree Democrats will pick up at least 2 seats this election.
Most political observers agree on the list of the most competitive races:
Eaton vs.Kelly
Flanders vs.Janeway
McLin vs. Cilley
Johnson vs. Reynolds
Martel vs.Devries
If Democrats manage to win all those contests, and return all 8 incumbents, they would enjoy the Senate majority for the first time in six years.
Democratic Senator Peter Burling is one of the people who believe his party will control the chamber after next week's election.
Democrats have out-raised Republicans by about one million dollars.
The national climate favors Democrats.
And Governor Lynch has rock-star like popularity.
Burling believes much hangs in the balance if his party controls the senate.
13:22 we are going to see a rise in the minimum wage. We are going to see a good budget, funded with real numbers, so things like LCHIP are funded and Healthy Kids...and that is going to reduce medical costs for everybody...this is responsible governance.
Some current Republican state senators like to say that if Democrats end up running things before long there will be an income tax.
New Hampshire Union Leader columnist and Republican activist Fergus Cullen sees 2006 as the Democrats year.
16:18 we aren't getting out our rosary beads and rubbing them together...it's not as bad as that....
20:49 politics is ebb and flow. In 1994 the R. won everything. In 1998 the D. won everything. In 2002, the R. won everything, four years later the tide has shifted again, and D. seem well positioned.
Cullen says Republicans will survive this ebb and strategizing for the next flow.
But to be effective, he says Republicans must figure out how to respond to the Governor made of gold.
21:20 how do we handle Governor Lynch?...The R. party has spent two years floundering trying to decide well do we work with him? do we oppose him? do we pick our fights? There has been no coherent strategy on how to deal with Governor Lynch and I think that is something the party has to come up with.
But if Governor Lynch gets the Democratic majority he's angling for, Republicans may have to figure out how to respond to more than just a popular governor.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo