Some Democrats favor an income tax.
And some don't.
It's no secret the party is divided over tax policy.
But for the most part, it seems Democrats have put those difference aside and are rallying around the candidate willing to sign the pledge.
Does that mean an income tax is a dead issue for the party faithful?
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein spoke with Democrats and filed this report.
State Senator Lou D'Allesandro has a suggestion for Democrats who support an income tax: face reality.
T. 9
:19 I think it's a dead issue. I don't think there is any question about that. The people have spoken. They spoke out against that loudly and clearly. This is not an issue that is up for debate. We've had a referendum on the income tax.
The Manchester Senator is referring to the 2002 gubernatorial election.
That's when Democrat Mark Fernald suffered a resounding defeat, garnering just 38% of the vote for his pro-income tax platform.
A number of Democrats around the state share the sentiment, that the 2002 election made the income tax a dead issue.
But some Democrats remain firm taxing income rather than property is a more equitable way to fund education.
Chesterfield State Representative McKim Mitchell is running for state Senate.
He says the income tax is very much alive in his part of the state.
T. 4
:20 ... Cheshire County has always been very strong in the income tax...my campaign, I have chosen not to take the pledge, for us to get beyond where we are now, we have to seriously look at our revenue source and create a revenue source.
Mitchell says he's open to any new revenue source, whether that's tobacco, gambling or the income tax.
But Mitchell, like many who believe the income tax should at least be on the table for discussion, is endorsing John Lynch.
First-time candidate Susan Kepner, running for state representative in Hampton, shares Mitchell's stance on taxes and is also endorsing Lynch.
She's honest about why she won't be supporting State Representative Paul McEchern, whose campaign centers on the income tax.
T.3
4:17....I don't think he's electable, I hate to say that. I hate to say that b/c of the tax issue. First we need to get Mr. Benson out, then we have to focus on the needs and wants of its citizens.
The most recent polling figures, now two years old, shows Democrats were evenly split on support of the income tax.
That poll was conducted before the defeat of gubernatorial candidate Mark Fernald.
Now, political pragmatists in the party are trying to distance themselves from the issue.
State senator Joe Foster says pushing for the tax turns voters off before they even know anything else about the rest of the party's platform.
Track 23
:03 ... it retards the ability to push those issues forward b/c the Republicans can have a very simple campaing, no income tax. They set the debate. And I think for us to not have that debate set, we need to move beyond that issue.
UNH pollster Andy Smith says the issue colors the entire party.
3:20 ... I am thinking specifically about the 2002 Senate race between Shaheen and Sununu. Now, Shaheen had opposed sales and income tax, yet, the last week of the campaign there was a very successful yard sign campaign, which had signs in Shaheen colors, that said, Shaheen Fernald, the courage to raise taxes...I think that hurt her over the final weekend of the campaign.
Still even after running away from the issue, Democrats continue to be defined by it.
But former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and now talk show host Arnie Arnesen doesn't see the income tax per se as the problem for the party.
She argues the problem is trying to articulate the core belief underlying the tax.
16:12 ... When you are a party, yes we need some government, yes we need some revenue, yes we need some regulation, as soon as you say the word 'yes' it gets tacky and sticky, b/c you have to define what yes is, and 'yes' doesn't fit on a bumper sticker...no matter what happens this will always be a challenge for the Democratic Party, it is not the income tax. It is who we are and what we believe in. that's our issue.
Arnesen says if pro-income tax Democrats decide to rally around Lynch, and he becomes governor, he will have to prove himself to that wing of the party.
And she cautions if he fails to suggest realistic solutions to education funding, the so-called pragmatic consensus that got him into office, could dissolve.
But right now, state chair Kathy Sullivan isn't even thinking about hypothetical internal struggles within the party.
She just cares about is getting a Democrat elected.
5:10 if it puts the party in the corner office, that's a pretty good place. (laughter)
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
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