While President Obama stumped in Concord, a band of prominent Republicans traveled the state on behalf of Mitt Romney and gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne.
Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte worked GOP voters, as did former Governor John Sununu, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Cindy McCain.
When they arrived at MacKenna’s restaurant in New London, supporters met them with cheers. It was then on to a group sing-a-long of America the Beautiful.
The singing soon gave way to a sustained indictment of President Obama’s record. John Sununu led the charge.
"I have never seen anybody so inexperienced, so clumsy, so inept, so incompetent and so mis-serving of this country as the president we have there now. He has to go, we need Mitt Romney.”
Kelly Ayotte told the crowd that every vote will count Tuesday, and urged supporters to give it their all.
“So let’s not leave anything behind between now and Tuesday. You are the ones who are going to make a difference."
It’s a crucial time for both campaigns in battleground states around the country. And Senator McCain – who twice won the Presidential primary here – hoped New Hampshire might be good to him one more time.
“Well, it’s one of the most important states, obviously. We think it’s very close. I am somewhat known here in the state, so we know it all comes down to turnout. So hopefully we’ll motivate some of our old supporters.”
One reason why McCain did well here is that he appealed to independent voters as well as core Republicans. Ovide Lamontagne will need such voters to pull out a win, Tuesday. He worked the room doggedly, before and after the others arrived. And he stressed the cause was bigger than any single race.
"Well, I’m here today to connect with the people of New London area and to remind them of the importance of the election all the way up and down the ballot, and that’s not just about the president."
Lamontagne said he plans to spend the waning hours of this election campaigning at small restaurants and corner stores, looking for what he called spontaneous interactions…….and votes.
