Lamontagne: 'There is No 47 Percent in NH'
Gubernatorial candidates clash on the economy, jobs and social issues in first debate.
Photos
For more than a week, Ovide Lamontagne and Maggie Hassan have attempted to paint a clear picture of one another, to members of their respective parties, to the media and, most importantly, to the New Hampshire voters.
Hassan has claimed that Lamontagne is lock step with the Tea Party and its ultra-conservative fiscal agenda, and Lamontagne has illustrated Hassan as a tax-toting liberal who, while in the state senate, led the Democratic-run legislature in creating a nearly insurmountable state deficit.
This morning, each had their first real opportunity to confront the other in person, and to defend themselves, when they met at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College for the first of several gubernatorial debates leading up to the General Election on Nov. 6.
Later in the nearly one-hour debate each candidate was asked about claims made by Mitt Romney at a private event that were recently leaked to the press where the GOP presidential nominee claims 47 percent of the country is dependent on government assistance.
"The governor of New Hampshire needs to be a governor for all the people, and there's no 47 percent in New Hampshire as far as I'm concerned," said Lamontagne. "Every citizen deserves to have a responsible government, one that understands the limits of the constitution and the power of the free markets and can lead us into a new era of prosperity, and I'll be that governor."
Hassan, however, said the social agenda of Lamontagne and fellow Republicans makes that goal impossible.
"I have a record of reaching across the aisle," said Hassan, "but you can't be the governor for everybody in New Hampshire if you deny a woman the right to make her own health care decisions."
"It's the law of the land," retorted Lamontagne, referring to legalized abortion, "and as governor of New Hampshire, I'll be duty-bound to enforce the law of the land, and I will ... the law of the the land provides for abortion. That's not changing."
The exchange was one of many opportunities the candidates used to get their social agendas across to the electorate. As both candidates noted at various times during the debate, some social issues and economic issues go hand-in-hand, though Hassan said many civil liberties, particularly gay marriage, are pivotal to attracting new business, while Lamontagne said he wasn't so sure that was the case.
Despite the conversation drifting at times, the debate moderators continuously brought the discussion back to the economy, jobs, taxes and most notably the middle class.
Hassan, who argued for the Affordable Care Act and additional funding for Medicare, said that the development and maintenance of infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, was necessary to draw business to New Hampshire, tasks she said can't be accomplished while slashing taxes.
Lamontagne, who took the opposite approach on the Affordable Care Act, didn't disagree with Hassan on the needs for infrastructure, but said those needs must be met while reducing taxes and regulatory burdens on small businesses.
"We've seen government grow too far, and too fast," said Lamontagne, "and as a result for New Hampshire families, particularly the middle class, there has been a squeeze ... in terms of the pressure on business and a squeeze on their jobs, and economic prosperity is the future to supporting the middle class, which means government has to create that environment for competition to occur, for new businesses to be created for new opportunities or our citizens."
"The great recession has been a terrible thing for the middle class," said Hassan, "and one of my concerns and one of the things I hope people will think about and listen to is much of what Ovide is talking about with his agenda is a return to the very economic policies that brought on the great recession.
"We need to make sure that our middle class families have opportunity so they can compete," she added. "That's why I'm running for governor."
The final question of the debate centered on what type of business each candidate would start if they had the opportunity.
For Lamontagne, the answer was simple. He'd owned a construction business early in his professional.
"If I were to do it again, I'd be a contractor," he said. "I love working with my hands."
For Hassan, well, the electorate found she has fondness for canines.
"I would either open a gym or I would raise dogs," she said. "You know, when in doubt, get a dog."
Among the many other topics discussed, Lamontagne and Hassan also clashed on education funding and the structure of the state liquor commission.
The debate was a partnership of the NH Institute of Politics, the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, NH Union Leader, NH Public Radio and NH Public Television, and that it was underwritten by Lincoln Financial Group
News Flash
11:49 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Cant you see Hassan spending other people money. Just look at her. She is a natural in that regard. A must, to be a democrat.
David Victory
3:46 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
NF, do you have a job? It's funny how you almost always have the first comment on these stories. Just sayin'.
R. Scott White
12:09 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
"NF, do you have a job? It's funny how you almost always have the first comment on these stories."
I think it IS his job DV; thank goodness you and others are here to offset the one way viewpoint while I work.
Of course if it was only your viewpoint here, I'd be saying the same thing.
Atlant Schmidt
12:09 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
News Flash is actually a Perl script running on a server in someone's basement.
News Flash
12:22 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Unlike the 3 people above I actually contribute to society. I Pay Federal Income Taxes and do not believe in Socialism, Collectivism or an Obama variant of these.
Steve From NH
12:32 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Flashy, your posts are less of a contribution to society than you think.
BTW, just read that Romney's Dad was on welfare. Did you see that?
Unable to take responsibility for his own life, dependent on the government.
Poll news, too, Rasmussen and Gallup have Obama up again.
Of course they might be tracking Dump Obama instead of President Obama.
News Flash
8:05 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
@Atlant
Using your wife's guidelines that is an inappropriate comment.
Jan Schmidt
8:26 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
NF are you feeling personally insulted by Atlant commenting on David and R. Scott's comments on the question of your quantity of posts?
Maybe you could answer their honest inquiry about your time on this board. You know so much about many of us, why not share?
Celia Brown
11:58 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
She's comfortably behind in the polls. She self-inflicted herself by declaring war on all conservatives and independents. Ovide is borderline for me however. I really wished Lynch would stay on board at least one more term. He set the bar high for his predecessor, and were noticing that with this new slew of candidates.
If the dems were smart, they'd should try anything to keep him on board. He has a future in Washington very much like Scott Brown does. this country is a changing...can't be 90% conservative anymore and expect to win elections.....
Mike
12:22 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I think you mean successor not predecessor.
Celia Brown
8:19 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
thank you mike for that correction.
Dan
12:14 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Celia: According to Real Clear Politics where they take an average of ALL polls (not just the conservative ones you cling to for dear life), for the period of 6/20 to 9/17, had Lamontange at 41.3% Hassan 39.3%. That is hardly what one calls a comfortable lead, considering that Ovide hasn't even gotten close to a 50% margin.
Take a look for yourself, if you are so objective (which I gather not). Also this idea of declaring war on conservatives and independents? Your own party can't handle the Tea Party, and yet you claim that Maggie is declaring war on the conservatives?
Don't know what you are smoking, hope it didn't cost you too much money or brain cells!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/governor/nh/new_hampshire_governor_lamontagne_vs_hassan-2804.html
David Victory
3:48 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
"Lamontagne: 'There is No 47 Percent in NH'"
I think it's so great that down-ticket Republicans are distancing themselves from their disastrous presidential candidate.
olenhgal
1:55 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
no 47%Take a look at Elm St now! The shelters, the emergency rooms, etc. Never saw Manchester like this before. Wonder how many of them are being posted on the voting list as eligable to vote?
Mike Healey
2:18 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
"them"?
Oh please, describe this "them" you keep seeing.
Charles Hatch
6:18 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Politically Romney & Ryan are radioactive and republicans
are distancing themselves in race's such as Massachusetts Scott Brown " thats not the way I view the world " referring to Romneys comment that Americans are victims and entitled ... " And he noy responsible for this group of people ( voters ) "
I think the voter turn out is critical.
President Obama courted on David Letterman
Representing ALL the people.
Romney is in serious trouble.
David Victory
6:22 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Agreed. Mitt is a disaster.
Here's the full transcript of Mitt's ugly words at the $50,000/plate fundraiser:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/full-transcript-mitt-romney-secret-video.
olenhgal
1:58 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
I agree, unless we can outnumber them. For the country, not the party or "just because he is black". Vote Romney
Mike Healey
2:17 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Mitt Romney is claiming to be black?
WriterRay
6:35 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
"Mitt is a disaster"?
As compared to this guy, so clearly out of his skill set, experience and competency?
David Victory
6:59 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Yes, Mitt is a disaster.
And if by "this guy" you mean President Obama, he's done an excellent job. After 8 years of Republican mismanagement, we're on the road to recovery. Why Obama is expected to fix in 4 years what Bush took 8 to destroy is a question I've never gotten a good answer to.
And how a guy with policies identical to those of Bush is supposed to fix anything is a mystery.
How are Romney's policies any different than Bush's?
http://www.salon.com/2012/05/01/the_romney_bush_mind_meld/
olenhgal
1:59 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Good Post
Celia Brown
8:24 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
...but yet Mitt is leading in the NH polling.. Like I said, Mitt is the lesser of two evils, that just makes Obama the worse choice of two. That's undeniable. Say he's a disaster, yea he's a novice campaigner. Expecting Obama to fix everything in 4 years? no, but we didnt expect it to get worse and be more in debt with nothing substantive to show for it. Were at the inception of another decline here folks....
Lee Richardson
9:25 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
@Celia
No, President Obama is not the worse choice of the two. Let me ask you a question? Have you any children die in Iraq or Afghanistan? Mitt Romney is itching to go to war with Iran. America is war weary and I for one will not tolerate a president firing then aiming for war with any country before tactfully negotiating a peaceful solution. My son is a US Marine and he was on a security run in Iraq and witnessed two of his buddies die there. Mitt Romney IS a total disaster. I refuse to vote for someone who will turn back the clock and take us back to the horrible Bush years. President Obama can't make headway because his republican house wants him to fail and refuses to budge on any pertinent legislation.
@jrmetalman, if 47 million people are on food stamps it's because huge corporations are hoarding their money and refuse to hire people to work. If those corporations were hiring American workers you know 47 million people wouldn't be on food stamps! Republicans ran on JOBS in 2010, where are the jobs?! Oh my God, where's the common sense in this country?
Johmbe
10:25 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The lesser of two evils logic has to be the most ignorant and idiotic argument that I constantly hear people make. You're still voting for evil, you understand that right? How do you expect evil to fix the country's problems? Look outside of the billionaire's clubs known as the Democrats and Republicans, there's more to this country then these two parties which have both led us into the hole we're in now. But if you must pick one because you feel you'd be "throwing your vote away" (which you wouldn't be) then please, do your research and find out who really controls Mitt.
David Victory
12:35 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@ Celia
I don't know what polls you're looking at...
Jan Schmidt
6:09 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
The WMUR Granite State Poll released Thursday shows 45% of likely voters plan to support Obama , 40% say they will vote for Romney, and 3 percent say they support another candidate.
Dan
12:17 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
There you go again........Celia:
Obama has according to Real Clear Politics a 2 point edge, and Mitt, has only been able to get a 3 point lead, from Rassmussen. The first of which since April of this year. So please try again...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/nh/new_hampshire_romney_vs_obama-2030.html
jrmetalman
8:38 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
If we had a decent president like Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan we wouldn't have this 47 per cent problem. Wasn't it 47 million people on food stamps. 47 million that's a lot of people!!! 47 million and rising in this weak and getting weaker economy!!! Good job Barry keep up the good work, Harry and Nancy are still with you.
Brian
10:45 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Decent president like Romney or Ryan!
Are you talking the decent Romney, who in prep school, mugged a fellow student and cut his hair off or are you talking the decent Romney who, instead of hiring a bigger van, tied his dog kennel to the roof of his wagon for a long vacation trip?
As for a "decent president like Ryan", may the Lord protect us all from that possibilituy.
David Victory
12:33 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
No, Jr.
Here's the "47%" Mittens is denigrating: http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2012/09/18/who-are-the-47/57802074/1
WORKING poor.
Elderly (retired)
Low income
Military
Rich people like Mitt
"Even the ultra-wealthy can avoid paying taxes -- for example, if their income comes from tax-exempt bonds. Tax Policy Center data show that perhaps 24,000 of the top 1% of earners pay no federal income taxes."
jrmetalman
10:12 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Lee R. you talk about common sense but you don't have any. When we debated Obama care for a year, we were told it would make our businesses more competitive. Our businesses were held back because other countries have socialized medicine. We passed that crap and you say bad corporations for not hiring poor people now on food stamps. Mitt Romney was right when he said poor people have a victim mentality. They are victims of Liberal spending and Lousy tax policies!!!
Brian
10:59 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Dear metalmouth,
I think your blind hatred of President Obama makes your writing somewhat inarticulate?
What exactly don't you like about "Obamacare"? Not enough people dying to suit you? You know someone you dislike who's now getting medical attention?
I'm poor because of cuts in my industry (gone overseas thanks to "decent" Romney, but I'm getting by because of Social Security. Does that make me part of
"decent" Romney's 47 percent? I worked all my life and contributed probably more than my fair share of taxes. Would you like to see my SS payments taken away?
What is your problem with mankind?
News Flash
6:51 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Rasmussen (9/19) has Romney 48%, Obama 45% with Romney up by 3% in NEW HAMPSHIRE. Rasmussens poll were the MOST ACCURATE in 2008.
The WMUR/UNH polling data has been determined over the years to have a built in bias towards the democrat party. This is due to their OVERSAMPLING Democrats in their polling data (on purpose?).
Tom Linehan
7:29 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Exactly.
News Flash
7:47 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Rasmussen (9/19) has Romney 48%, Obama 45%
2008 Accuracy Results:
The following list ranks the 20 organizations by the accuracy of their final, national preelection polls (as reported on pollster.com).
1. Rasmussen (11/1-3)**
1. Pew (10/29-11/1)**
2. YouGov/Polimetrix (10/18-11/1)
3. Harris Interactive (10/20-27)
4. GWU (Lake/Tarrance) (11/2-3)*
5. Diageo/Hotline (10/31-11/2)*
5. ARG (10/25-27)*
6. CNN (10/30-11/1)
6. Ipsos/McClatchy (10/30-11/1)
7. DailyKos.com (D)/Research 2000 (11/1-3)
8. AP/Yahoo/KN (10/17-27)
9. Democracy Corps (D) (10/30-11/2)
10. FOX (11/1-2)
11. Economist/YouGov (10/25-27)
12. IBD/TIPP (11/1-3)
13. NBC/WSJ (11/1-2)
14. ABC/Post (10/30-11/2)
15. Marist College (11/3)
16. CBS (10/31-11/2)
17. Gallup (10/31-11/2)
18. Reuters/ C-SPAN/ Zogby (10/31-11/3)
19. CBS/Times (10/25-29)
20. Newsweek (10/22-23
Mike Healey
7:56 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Least accurate in 2010
Mike Healey
7:57 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
You Republicans love those polls, when they say what you like.
Mike Healey
8:00 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
* OHIO: Obama 49%, Romney 42% (FOX News)
* FLORIDA: Obama 49%, Romney 44% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 43% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 52%, Romney 44% (Washington Post)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 54%, Romney 40% (Marquette University)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Obama 48%, Romney 47% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Romney 47%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
* NEW HAMPSHIRE: Romney 48%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
Dan
12:21 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
News Flash: You and Celia have something in common...you are misguided.
Real Clear Politics takes a look at ALL polls, not just your favorites. Mitt has led in only 2 polls for the WHOLE YEAR. A Dartmouth Poll on April 2-5, 2012, and the one you stated.
So try again..............
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/nh/new_hampshire_romney_vs_obama-2030.html
Steve From NH
12:37 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
That was yesterday. Today is a different story, Bet tomorrow will be another different story, and Mitt's team is still beating the crap out of that etch-a-sketch.
News Flash
8:22 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
New Hampshire: Romney 48%, Obama 45%
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Mitt Romney has now taken the lead in the swing state of New Hampshire.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in New Hampshire shows Romney with 48% support to President Obama’s 45%. Four percent (4%) prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided.
This New Hampshire survey of 500 Likely Voters was conducted on September 18, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.5 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
http://granitegrok.com/blog/2012/09/new-hampshire-romney-48-obama-45
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/new_hampshire/election_2012_new_hampshire_president
Mike Healey
9:26 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
* OHIO: Obama 49%, Romney 42% (FOX News)
* FLORIDA: Obama 49%, Romney 44% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 43% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 52%, Romney 44% (Washington Post)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 54%, Romney 40% (Marquette University)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Obama 48%, Romney 47% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Romney 47%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
* NEW HAMPSHIRE: Romney 48%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
olenhgal
2:10 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
You can always tell the "proffessionals" they have the figures right at their finger tips.
Mike Healey
2:15 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Flashy isn't "proffessionals"[sic] about anything. You are giving him way too much credit.
Ernest
9:17 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Romney's taking off in the polls and Obama is going where he belongs - down. In Rev. Wright's words, Obama's "chickens are coming home to roost". Time for you Obama supporters to start sending your idol cards and letters wishing him well in Chicago.
Mike Healey
9:25 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
* OHIO: Obama 49%, Romney 42% (FOX News)
* FLORIDA: Obama 49%, Romney 44% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 43% (FOX News)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 52%, Romney 44% (Washington Post)
* VIRGINIA: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 54%, Romney 40% (Marquette University)
* WISCONSIN: Obama 50%, Romney 46% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Obama 48%, Romney 47% (CBS/NYT)
* COLORADO: Romney 47%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
* NEW HAMPSHIRE: Romney 48%, Obama 45% (Rasmussen)
Steve From NH
10:31 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
And Dumpy, remember - Romney has to win ALL of those states, especially Ohio. If you look at realclearpolitics.com (which averages polls), Romney is behind in all of the states that matter except for North Carolina. And RCP is usually weighted towards the Repubs.
You can say the race is tight, definitely. "Romney is taking off in the polls" is pure fantasy.
And fivethirtyeight.com, which predicted something like 99% of the election the last time is even worse for Romney.
By the way, if things were going so well for Romney, he would not be shaking the etch-a-sketch again to reset the campaign.
Steve From NH
10:33 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
P.S. Rasmussen and Gallup poll using robo-polls and land lines - no cell phones. Polls that use humans to ask the questions and cell phones show Obama even further ahead - may or may not mean much, but that's the way it is.
Mike Healey
11:41 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Obama 47% Romney 45% "In the only polls that matter, Rasmussen".....
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows President Obama attracting support from 47% of voters nationwide, while Mitt Romney earns 45% of the vote.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll
Dan
2:11 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
@News Flash and Jane Aitken: 3 New Polls: Ohio, Virginia, and Florida:
Obama has them.
Source: FOX NEWS VIA YAHOO: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/poll-shows-obama-leads-romney-key-swing-states-150338499--election.html
Mike Healey
2:56 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
I think this is where they now start saying that the polls don't matter.....
R. Scott White
1:21 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
If you look at only women voters, the polls look just ghastly for Romney.
Which isn't surprising, but if more women than men go to the polls in November, this will be a runaway.
Kim in Exeter
6:59 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
OMG, Ovide. When you took the GOP speech refresher course to brush up on buzzwords, did no one teach you how to form a complete sentence? This is gibberish..."We've seen government grow too far, and too fast," said Lamontagne, "and as a result for New Hampshire families, particularly the middle class, there has been a squeeze ... in terms of the pressure on business and a squeeze on their jobs, and economic prosperity is the future to supporting the middle class, which means government has to create that environment for competition to occur, for new businesses to be created for new opportunities or our citizens."
News Flash
8:29 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
@Jan Schmidt
The issue is a double standards which you wish to impose on Patch. Hardly a qualification for Public Office.