One more day until voters go to the polls in Manchester to pick the next mayor.
Both candidates pushed hard over the weekend looking for support.
Challenger Frank Guinta continued his attacks against incumbent Mayor Bob Baines record.
And the Mayor continued to tout his successes.
But the Guinta campaign has run into some trouble.
Mayor Baines is asking the state Attorney General to investigate recorded messages sent out by his opponent that the mayor says violate the Federal Do-not-call lists.
NHPR Correspondent Joe Cox reports.
( CUE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME/NAT/BAND/ANNOUNCER/FADE)
THE FINAL WEEKEND OF CAMPAIGNING IN THE MANCHESTER MAYOR’S RACE…AND CHALLENGER FRANK GUINTA IS GREETING VOTERS AT THE MEMORIAL HIGH FOOTBALL FIELD WHERE THE HOME TEAM IS BATTLING CROSSTOWN MANCHESTER WEST.
“I continue to talk about cutting taxes, strengthening public safety, and getting our schools back on track. And I’ve got to tell you, people are thrilled with the message. We’re gaining support every single day, the momentum is clearly in our favor, and we’re looking forward to Tuesday, we’re looking forward to a victory.â€
ONE PARTICULAR MESSAGE SOME SUPPORTERS OF INCUMBENT MAYOR BOB BAINES ARE NOT THRILLED ABOUT…IS AN AUTOMATED PHONE MESSAGE…VOICED BY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND GUINTA SUPPORTER ART BEAUDRY. THE PRE-RECORDED CALLS STARTED GOING OUT TO MANCHESTER HOUSEHOLDS FRIDAY NIGHT…AND THE BAINES CAMP CRIED FOUL…CLAIMING THAT CALLS WERE RINGING THE PHONES BELONGING TO PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES ARE ON THE FEDERAL ‘DO NOT CALL’ LIST.
(CUE ANNOUNCER NAT/FUMBLE)
GUINTA CAMPAIGN SPOKESWOMAN, ALICIA PRESTON.
“Clearly, they don’t know the law, first of all. But let me first say that it’s absolutely phenomenal that two-and-a-half days out from an election they’re focusing on this. It goes to the mentality of the Baines campaign who hasn’t focused on the issues this entire time. That being said..they clearly don’t know the law. The federal ‘do not call’
list exempts political campaign calls. It’s in black and white and they can go right to the Federal Trade Commission website and look at it.â€
(FADE FOOTBALL NAT)
NOT MORE THAN A COUPLE MILES AWAY…MAYOR BAINES WAS GOING DOOR TO DOOR, TALKING TO VOTERS.
“Well, we’re very strict in terms of following all federal and state laws. You cannot call people on the ‘do not call’ list.â€
THE BAINES CAMPAIGN HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION.
SPOKESMAN BRIAN FALLON SAYS THE BEUDRY CALLS DID NOT INCLUDE DISCLAIMERS…SAYING WHO PAID FOR THE AD…ANOTHER VIOLATION OF STATE LAW…HE SAYS. BOTH VIOLATIONS CARRY 5-THOUSAND DOLLAR PENALTIES. FALLON SAYS A LIST OF 14-THOUSAND NAMES FOR THE BAINES CAMPAIGN AUTOMATED CALL LIST IS REDUCED TO ABOUT 5-THOUSAND ONCE THE ‘DO NOT CALL’ NAMES ARE TAKEN OUT…AND GUINTA IS ENJOYING AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
BAINES CONTINUED HIS DOOR TO DOOR ROUTINE.
“I’m hearing very positive things. I’ve done several thousand doors in this campaign. That’s the cornerstone of all my campaigns. People are very positive and upbeat about the city, and they’re a little bit turned off by the negative tone on the other side of this campaign.â€
VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS TOMORROW IN THE MANCHESTER CITY ELECTION. FOR NHPR NEWS, I’M JOE COX
