While few may realize it, there is a Democratic Primary in Second Congressional District next month.
Concord attorney Paul Hodes will face Wilton-resident and Youth Minister Chris Owen.
Both share the current centrist Democratic positions: they support abortion rights, call themselves fiscal conservatives and want to improve the nation's image abroad.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has this profile of the two candidates.
Chris Owen will tell you he's running for two reasons.
One, he fears the Bush Administration's unilateralist policies are squandering the nation's influence in the world.
And two, he wants to bring a different religious voice to politics.
T.5
:53...we do need to talk about morality, we do need to make judgments about what is good and what is wrong. But there is more, there is more to the Christian faith...The religious voice in American public life has to recognize the plurality of religious and non-religious people in this country. And I think that is part of building community.
In one of his three position papers, Owen says he wants to cut the link between 'Christian' and conservative.
Indeed, the Youth Minister considers himself a bit of a rare breed, a Democratic Christian male.
Owen has worked at the Amherst Congregational Church the last seven years.
In that capacity he preaches, leads worship services, conducts weddings and provides counsel to people in crisis.
He unsuccessfully ran for State Representative in 2000 and 2002.
This time around, Owen has raised little money, doesn't have much of a staff, says he isn't familiar with his opponent's positions and with the primary just a month away, still lacks a campaign website.
But even if he's talking to only a few people in a Hopkinton living room, Owen says his candidacy is real.
T.11
2:05 people make calculations about is this going to have any impact or not, are people get all caught up in those kinds of calculations, and they get paralyzed about whether they can have any influence or power at all. And I don't believe that, I don't believe that at all...I believe you go out and tell people, you claim your authority and tell people what you think. No matter how small, it doesn't matter.
Owen says political change happens person to person, just talking.
He says he believes he has a chance to win.
But if he doesn't, Owen says this race isn't about beating his Democratic rival, Paul Hodes.
:48 ...I don't feel like I am running against Paul, I feel like I am competing with him. my hope is that competition makes people better and stronger. I wouldn't characterize it as a fight.
Concord attorney Paul Hodes doesn't characterize the primary as a fight either.
T.14
:00 in terms of the primary, my sense is that the base of primary voters, who tend to be Democratic activists are solidly in my camp. They understand that I am serious about this effort, that I am running a serious campaign...
Unlike Chris Owen, Hodes has taken a leave of absence from his job, and is focused exclusively on the race.
In an effort to make a name for himself over the past few months Hodes has attended house parties, held press conferences, raised a few hundred thousand dollars and toured the state.
... I am running, frankly, a general election campaign at this point. I am not disregarding the primary, but I am reasonably confident, without being over confident that my message of fiscal responsibility, restoring our role of good in the world, and the way I articulate issues is resonating.
Convinced fiscal responsibility is THE issue to defeat Republicans in November, Hodes has soldered himself to it.
More often than not, Hodes spends his time blasting incumbent Charlie Bass for supporting major spending increases and huge tax cuts.
The 5-term Congressman, however, enjoys a comfortable lead over Hodes according to a recent UNH poll.
One strategy Hodes is using to bridge that gap is to tie is political platform to Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry.
Like Kerry, Hodes pledges to balance the budget by rescinding tax cuts to the wealthy, shrinking government, and curbing spending.
Hodes, a sometimes musician, also appears to have a fondness for political theatre.
He has announced the Rock and Roll Back the Deficit Tour, where he and his band of "brother geezers" will travel the district, mixing classic rock and talk on the budget.
He laces his speeches with jokes, and at a recent press conference on the budget, relied on a prop that looked like it was borrowed from a high school drama troop.
T.19
2:34 the prop was a huge mountain of debt. It was the Bush/Bass Mt. Of debt done in a beautiful green paint, with a snow capped mountain, it's about 10 ft tall, and it rolls. There were four chain gang supporters attached to the MT. With chains, in costume, who represent our children, each of whom owes, as we all do, 25 thousand dollars.
Hodes is unapologetic about his style.
T.19
:41 I think I have a sense of humor. I think that in order to deal with the slings and arrows of political life, not taking yourself overly seriously is a pretty good quality to have for a politician...I am a very serious candidate and I have given very serious thought to the issues, but if we can't have fun out there, life isn't worth living without fun.
The fun will start for real after the primary on September 14th.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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