For political junkies, the state senate race between Republican Peter Bragdon and Democrat Mark Fernald is a sirens song.
The contest oozes narrative.
Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Fernald seeks redemption after having his hat handed to him two years ago.
Republican candidate Peter Bragdon ran to the right of incumbent senator Andy Peterson, son of a former governor, and Bragdon won.
Now the two square off in what many around the state consider to be one of the most competitive state senate races this year.
New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein has the story.
Days before the September primary, Democrat Mark Fernald emailed friends, family and former supporters.
Since there was no Democratic candidate running for state senate, he asked them to write him in.
Fernald says he sensed incumbent Republican senator Andy Peterson was on the ropes, and worried the more conservative candidate would face no fight in the general election.
Fernald won the write-in.
And even though Fernald has served the district twice before, Peterborough Transcript publisher Joe Cummings says the Democrat has an uphill battle.
T.19
9:13 one of the negatives that Mark is going to have to overcome is jumping into this race at this very late hour. At the present, he doesn't have any signs yet, he doesn't have any bumper stickers, he just sent out his campaign fundraising letters, whether he can pull it together in six weeks...that is going to be the challenge.
T.2
*2:50- 3:33 sfx: Fernald talking with campaign manager
Mark Fernald sits in his office, discussing chances to get his message out at upcoming regional events.
Senate District 11 includes stretches from Jaffrey in the west to Amherst in the East and includes Milford and Peterborough.
If Fernald wants to do well, he must separate himself from his main platform item as the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2002....the income tax.
Fernald was trounced by Governor Benson, and many Democrats blame Fernald for bringing the entire Democratic ticket down with his income tax position.
But this election, the candidate most associated with the income tax says it's not an issue.
T.7
1:30 I am not going to make it a center piece of my campaign, b/c we have two candidates for governor who have taken the pledge and it's clear that we are not going to have any votes on tax reform this year. So I am talking about all the other issues that are important.
Fernald is talking about the issues, education funding, and healthcare.
But his focus is on cementing his opponent Peter Bragdon to the Governor.
T.4
5:19 ... he was part of the Benson transition team, he supports the governor on undoing the Claremont decision with a constitutional amendment, he supports the tax payer bill of rights. His big criticism of Andy Peterson was that we didn't cut state spending enough...so he is very much a Benson clone, which makes it easier for me to spell out the issues, b/c people don't necessarily know who Bragdon is, but they are going to understand he is a Benson ally.
Fernald and Bragdon essentially agree on which issues are most important.
Education funding, looming deficits, and the cost of health insurance.
But the two wholly disagree on what to do about those issues.
Fernald wants to look at increasing the tobacco tax to stem the potential deficit.
In terms of state spending, Bragdon echoes one of Governor Benson's familiar refrains.
T.30
4:!6 generally speaking, the problem in Concord has historically been a spending problem rather than a revenue problem.
Bradgon supports the so-called tax payer bill of rights that would require a legislative super majority to increase the state budget by more than the rate of inflation.
He also advocates a constitutional amendment to remove the court's authority in the Claremont education funding suit.
Abortion is a secondary issue in the race.
Mark Fernald says he pro-choice.
Bragdon says he supports parental notification, and wants to limit so-called late term abortions.
But he refuses to say if he opposes abortion rights.
Cut 11
If it's not an area that involves me as a state senator, there ain't no sense in getting involved in with controversial discussions that really have no impact on what a state senator does.
During the primary against the more moderate Senator Andy Peterson, Bradgon sent out fliers that read in part, Republican Peter Bragdon is 100% pro-life.
Bragdon acknowledges he is a conservative.
His message during the primary was that he was more Republican than Republican Andy Peterson.
But Bragdon takes exception to Fernald's characterization.
T.35
:03 Mark Fernald has tried to portray me as a right-wing whacko and I don't think those charges can stick...I think it's foolishness to say that someone is in lockstep with someone else b/c they support a certain thing. If Joseph Stalin supported an income tax, it would be silly for me to say that Mark Fernald and Joseph Stalin are in lockstep
Republican State Representative Ted Leach says he's surprised to see how far right Bragdon has drifted.
Leach says when he and Bragdon served together in the Legislature, they took on Republican leadership on a controversial campaign finance reform bill.
But now he says he sees the similarities between Bragdon and Benson, and Leach says he isn't the only one.
T.25
2:40 ...several people commented on the fact that Bragdon signs were always posted with Benson signs. On the same standard. It's amazing that people notice things like that. I thought that was only something political junkies noticed...so I think he is going to have to duck and cover from Benson.
The big question in the district is how Republicans who were satisfied with Senator Peterson are going to vote in November.
Many locals predict the Peterborough, Jaffrey, Rindge side of the district will back Fernald.
But Milford Cabinet managing editor Mike Cleveland says the big towns of Milford and Amherst in the east appear to favor Bragdon.
T.26
:14 ... his family name is huge in Amherst, they have Amherst farm, there is a former selectman whose name was Bragdon. Peter has contacts all over there, and he is going to do extremely well in Amherst, and he is going to do extremely well in Milford. He is the chairman of the school board, you can't walk around without running into Bragdon. So the question then becomes, can Fernald do well enough on the Peterborough side of the mountain.
Democrat Fernald says he's confident the district is more moderate than Bragdon.
But possibly sensing he must spread the word about how much more conservative he is, Fernald has challenged Bragdon to a series of debates.
T.13
:00 we have ten towns and I suggested we do eight debates. So we cover the whole district...he said he would be willing to debate, that's what he said to the paper, since then he's ducked all calls, he won't respond. He's afraid to debate. He doesn't want people to know where we stand on the issues, and to see the difference in our stance.
Peter Bragdon couldn't disagree more.
T.32
4:20 assuming the time is there, and some independent group wants to put together a debate or forum, or anything, I am more than willing to go there....I am more than happy to participate. It's a publicity stunt by Fernald that I am ducking...it's just ridiculous, I am willing to appear anywhere if anyone wants to set something up.
If Fernald beats the odds and wins, and Democrats don't lose any seats, that would mean the Party would increase its minority to 7 of 24.
For NHPR News, I'm DG.
