With the election just days away, Republican John Sununu and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen wooed older voters this morning in Bedford. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
AT A FORUM SPONSORED BY THE AARP, SHAHEEN AND SUNUNU DEBATED THE HOT ISSUE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS. SUNUNU POINTED OUT HE HAS VOTED TWICE TO CREATE ADD A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT TO MEDICARE. IN A VOICE THAT?S APPARENTLY GROWN HOARSE FROM THE RIGORS OF CAMPAIGNING, SUNUNU SAID THE BILL HE SUPPORTED WOULD KEEP COSTS DOWN AND MINIMIZE BUREAUCRACY BY RELYING ON PRIVATE INSURERS.
It will cut out of pocket costs for the average senior by 40%. It gives you choices and options. I think choices and options are good. I don?t want the federal government running a one size fits all medicare drug program.
DEMOCRATS IN THE U-S SENATE HAVE BACKED A GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN. GOVERNOR SHAHEEN STOPPED SHORT OF ENDORSING THAT APPROACH. BUT SHE CRITICIZED SUNUNU?S PLAN, SAYING A SIMILAR EFFORT TO CREATE A MEDICARE MANAGED CARE SYSTEM HAS FAILED.
What we?ve seen in the past with medicare plus choice is that the insurance industry got out of the bizness. There would be no requirement that they provide a standardization of coverage, that the private insurance market would even cover this benefit.
THE TWO SENATE CANDIDATES ALSO COVERED THE WELL-WORN GROUND OF SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM. SUNUNU ARGUES PARTIAL PRIVATIZATION WOULD LET WORKERS TAP INTO THE POWER OF THE STOCK MARKET; SHAHEEN SAYS ANY PRIVATIZATION PLAN WOULD DRAIN MONEY FROM THE SYSTEM AND ENDANGER BENEFITS. THE AUDIENCE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION, APPLAUDING AT SOME POINTS, MURMURING LOUDLY DURING OTHERS.
Crowd sounds, clinking of cups
AFTERWARD MANY AUDIENCE MEMBERS SAT DOWN TO BOX LUNCHES AND COFFEE. BOTH CAMPAIGNS HAVE TARGETED OLDER VOTERS. BUT MANY OF THESE SENIORS AREN?T FOLLOWING ANY PARTY LINE. GLADYS SIMKINS IS A RETIRED REAL ESTATE BROKER FROM BEDFORD. SHE?S A DEMOCRAT, BUT SHE?S NOT VOTING FOR SHAHEEN.
She had no plans. She was totally negative, her whole campaign was negative. I need plans. How are you gonna keep this thing going, how are you gonna get us out of debt, how are you gonna have money for later on, for my kids, not me.
BEFORE THE FORUM, RETIRED SOFTWARE EXECUTIVE PAT MCGINNIS WAS PRETTY SURE HE WOULD VOTE FOR SHAHEEN. AFTER THE FORUM HE WAS EVEN MORE SURE.
I think she?s less dogmatic about issues and I think that?s what we need in Washington rather than somebody that?s very dogmatic and votes 90% straight republican ticket and that sort of thing.
DICK JOSEPHSON OF MERRIMACK IS A FORMER ELECTRONIC ENGINEER. HE?S THINKING OF WRITING IN A VOTE FOR INCUMBENT BOB SMITH, WHO LOST TO SUNUNU IN THE PRIMARY. BUT HE LIKES WHAT SUNUNU HAS TO SAY ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.
I like the quote-unquote privatization part. Putting money in the stock market. Which I did when I started working. // 40-odd years of working, and it paid off handsomely.
DORIS JONES OF AMHERST IS THAT MOST SOUGHT-AFTER KIND OF VOTER: A REGISTERED INDEPENDENT. A RETIRED DATA PROCESSING MANAGER, JONES HAS VOTED FOR SHAHEEN BEFORE, AND WILL PROBABLY DO SO AGAIN.
I think she's done a good job in New Hampshire, I think she?d be a fresh face in Washington. I feel john sununu has always been rock solid republican and doesn?t deviate from that even though it might be better for the people if he did.
SEVERAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS SAID THEY?D BEEN INUNDATED WITH MAILINGS AND CALLS. DICK JOSEPHSON OFFERED THIS TECHNIQUE FOR DEALING WITH CAMPAIGN WORKERS ON THE PHONE.
You take the phone, turn it upside down and let them babble to whoever they want. And eventually they say, I know he?s there, I hear the TV! And then eventually they hang up, they get the idea.
BUT WHILE SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MANIPULATIVE OR INACCURATE CALLS, THESE VOTERS SAY THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY. MOST SAY THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN VIGOROUS AND FAIR. BUT THEY?RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ELECTION DAY, WHEN THEIR PHONES AND MAILBOXES WILL GET A LITTLE LESS BUSY. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
