In all the Congresssional races this year in New Hampshire, comfortably incumbent Republicans face Democratic challengers.
Across the Connecticut River, however, voters face a mirror image.
Republicans are the challengers.
And one of Vermont Representative Bernie Sanders' opponents is making some serious charges.
The Vermont Standard's Kevin Forrest reports:
Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders appears headed to any easy reelection in November.
The democratic socialist and former Burlington mayor has held Vermont?s sole congressional seat since 1991.
Sanders? straight talk and grass-roots approach has found its niche in Vermont?s quirky political landscape.
But Sanders? progressive ideals chafe the state?s conservatives.
And they've found a voice in Republican Greg Parke.
The 50-year-old retired Air Force colonel lost a primary bid two years ago to oppose Sanders.
This time Parke minces no words in attacking the incumbent.
(Parke) ?For all the years running up to 911 he campaigned with other left-wing extremists in congress to cut our intelligence and cut our defense budget, even in the face of an increasing terrorist threat. And for that I hold him accountable for the failure of our intelligence services to connect the dots prior to 9/11.?
The charges made headlines, but did not appear to resonate among Vermonters.
One statewide columnist called them ?laughable.?
Sanders doesn?t want to dignify the charges with a response.
(Sanders) ?Mr. Park is a right wing extremist and to suggest that any member of congress is responsible for 911 is a terrible statement and really not even worthy of responding to.?
Sanders defends his intelligence concerns.
(Sanders)?What I have done in my political career is call attention to the fact that our intelligence agencies were bureaucratic, ineffective, not communicating with each other and wasting huge sums of money so if I want to be criticized for pointing out what the 911 commission has recently indicated to be true, I see that as a very positive thing that I?ve done.?
Parke has also tried to paint Sanders as being bad for business.
(Parke) ?I can go to business corporations around the country and help convince them that Vermont is a great place to do business and expand and bring good paying jobs to Vermont where Mr. Sanders does just the opposite.?
Sanders cites his success in developing Burlington?s economy and how he?s helped farmers.
He refuses, however, to court big business.
(Sanders) ?If Mr. Parke or anyone else suggests that I should not stand up against corporate greed against large corporations that are throwing American workers out on the street and moving to china or elsewhere well, we have a strong disagreement. I think that when we talk about job creation we have to understand that people like President Bush, Mr. Parke and others think it is a good idea for corporate America to run to China. Unless we get a handle on that issue, our economy, not only in Vermont, but in New Hampshire, Maine and every other state in this country, is going to continue to suffer.?
Sanders has embarked on a series of ?town meetings? around the state to connect with Vermonters.
He usually draws good crowds and gets a good response.
(Sound bite) Bernie jokes with people, woman says she?ll send a check.
The woman?s donation will go to a war chest many times larger than Parke?s or Sanders? other two challengers.
It?s symbolic of the uphill battle they face in trying to unseat Vermont?s popular incumbent congressman.
For NHPR News, this is Kevin Forrest in Woodstock, Vt.
