NEW HAMPSHIRE IS COMING UP ON THE FINAL LEG OF THE PRIMARY.
AND CAMPAIGNS EXPECT TO BRING HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS INTO THE STATE.
BUT WHERE DO THESE CAMPAIGNERS LIVE?
HOUSING IN AND AROUND MANCHESTER IS SCARCE.
AND RENTS ARE HIGH THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO CORRESPONDENT JULIE DONNELLY REPORTS ON WHAT TWO CAMPAIGNS ARE DOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
THE KUCINICH CAMPAIGN HAS JUST FOUR STAFFERS BASED IN MANCHESTER RIGHT NOW, AND THEY ALL LIVE TOGETHER IN A SPARSE SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT NOT FAR FROM DOWNTOWN.
?and this is our recycling center. You name it, we recycle it. Otherwise we wouldn?t be the Kucinich campaign??
THAT?S KATE LEVIN. SHE TOOK A LEAVE FROM SCHOOL TO JOIN THE KUCINICH CAMPAIGN SHE BECAME A VEGETARIAN AND MOVED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IN SEPTEMBER. THE STAFFERS COOK TOGETHER FOUR NIGHTS A WEEK AND HOLD A WEEKLY HOUSE MEETING. LEVIN LOVES THE TOTAL CAMPAIGN IMMERSION , BUT ADMITS SHE SOMETIMES LOSES TOUCH WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
?what an experience to totally be in the bubble of the campaign, and I went home for thanksgiving and it was so strange not to be talking about politics and who said what at this debate, and they didn?t really care and to me it was such a foreign idea?
LEVIN AND HER COLLEAGUES HAD TO MOVE IN NOVEMBER WHEN THEIR FIRST LEASE RAN OUT. THEN IT TOOK SOME SEACHING TO FIND A LANDLORD WILLING TO RENT FOR JUST TWO MONTHS. MICHAEL COLBY FROM THE MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAYS THE JANUARY DEPARTURE DATE IS ONE OF THE THE BIGGEST REASONS LANDLORDS ARE RELUCTANT TO RENT TO CAMPAIGN STAFFERS.
?so your looking at a lot of property turning over in February and that?s a tough time to rent because with all the snow and ice, many people aren?t willing to move until the spring?
COLBY SAYS THE OTHER REASON LANDLORDS MAY BE WARY OF STAFFERS IS BECAUSE THEY FEAR LOUD PARTIES OR OTHER DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR. BUT HE SAYS SOME RENTAL AGENCIES HAVE COME AROUND, AFTER FINDING OUT MOST STAFFERS ARE PRETTY RESPONSIBLE, OR JUST TOO TIRED TO RAISE MUCH OF A RUCKUS.
AVAILABILITY IS ONE ISSUE FOR CAMPAIGNS. THE VACANCY RATE IN MANCHESTER IS POINT FOUR PERCENT. THE OTHER IS COST. THE AVERAGE RENT FOR A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT IS A THOUSAND DOLLARS. THIS WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR LARGER CAMPAIGNS LIKE HOWARD DEAN?S. THERE ARE ABOUT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY STAFFERS AROUND THE STATE, AND AT LEAST FIFTY ARE BASED IN THE MANCHESTER OFFICE.
IT?S KATHERINE TORREY?S JOB TO FIND DEAN SUPPORTERS WILLING TO TAKE THEM IN.
?housing a staffer or an intern is an opportunity to contribute to the campaign in a whole new way??
MANY OF THE DEAN SUPPORTERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO BE HOSTS, WERE ONCE STAFFERS THEMSELVES. CAROL MOORE FIRST CAME TO NEW HAMPSHIRE IN NINETEEN SIXTY EIGHT TO WORK FOR THE MCCARTHY CAMPAIGN. SHE?S CURRENTLY HOSTING A RETIRED FLIGHT ATTENDANT FROM CALIFORNIA. BEFORE THAT SHE HOUSED A YOUNG WOMAN JUST OUT OF COLLEGE.
?I wouldn?t say it?s nostalgia, because I wouldn?t want to go back to 23 ? it?s hard work, but it?s déª vu. It?s great to see their enthusiasm for politics, that they believe in someone, and got involved the way I and my friends did?
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS DEAN?S HOUSING COORDINATOR WILL BE LOOKING FOR A LOT MORE PEOPLE LIKE MOORE. HUNDREDS OF DEAN VOLUNTEERS ARE SET TO DESCEND ON THE STATE FOR A MASSIVE CANVASSING CAMPAIGN. THE KUCINICH CAMPAIGN ALSO PLANS TO BRING IN BUSLOADS OF SUPPORTERS FROM OHIO TO GO DOOR TO DOOR. KATE LEVIN FROM THE KUCINICH CAMPAIGN IS HOPING TO PUT UP HER VOLUNTEERS AT A NEARBY CONVENT. SHE SAYS THE ACCOMODATIONS THERE ARE QUITE LOVELY. FOR NHPR NEWS, I?M JULIE DONNELLY.
