Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

Though it's no longer the weekend, I'm going to continue making NH posts through Wednesday, given my bird's eye view. Jerome's given me the go-ahead.

The Edwards are doing another all night tour, like the one they had in Iowa. They had a rally this morning at 4 in Littleton, and it looks like they'll be going strong past midnight tonight. I woke up at 5 today to try and attend "Breakfast with John and Elizabeth at the DaddyPops Tumble Inn Diner" in Claremont, about half an hour from my apartment. I've yet to have the diner experience, and it's been a full year since I saw John Edwards. Unfortunately, along the way I had a flat tire, pulled over at a Claremont gas station, and missed the event. A friend who works for Edwards was free, and came to help me out, since part of my jack was missing. It took a full 20 minutes to get the nuts off, and then we discovered another tire was going flat anyway. I drove to an air pump, found it was out of order, and the spare had gone flat too - three flat tires. This required a tow truck, charging a remarkably-reasonable-yet-still-too-much-for-a-college-kid rate.

My friend had this to report about the event: the campaign was expecting a small turnout and was going to spend half an hour munching and schmoozing. The turnout was in the hundreds, and the event was relegated to ten minutes - so more of a rally than a schmooze with Q&A. I'm not sure what this kind of a surprise turnout means for Edwards - he's not polling here well and the crowd paled in comparison to the 3,000 Obama and Clinton had over the last couple days, but even if it was t-minus 26 hours, that's still a heckuva show for pre-dawn in a tiny town.

I'm back in Hanover, desperately trying to find a ride for the Obama event that's in Lebanon in 45 minutes. I think I've found one, and will report back later. Nathan out.

Tags: 2008, Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards, New Hampshire, New Hampshire primary (all tags)

Comments

9 Comments

Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

thanks for the reportage. Do you have any feel for how well-organized and effective the Edwards campaign is in NH?

can you imagine going to a rally before dawn?! Insane.

good luck to Mr. Edwards.

by mightymouse 2008-01-07 05:24AM | 0 recs
Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

Haven't seen too much of them, which surprises me, as this is one of Edwards' stronger parts of the state. But then again, I'm relatively off the grid with a cellphone and an indoor apartment. Going off of what my Edwards friends tell me, it's nothing to sneeze at, but it could be better.

It takes a lot to get me that up early, but I'd consider a once-in-a-lifetime campaign/media experience to be "a lot." :)

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-07 09:48AM | 0 recs
Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

by mightymouse 2008-01-07 05:24AM | 0 recs
Any blogger following is 36 hour marathon again?

Kind of curious as to how things are going on the ground. I know he has Robbins and Sarandon there today.

by cosbo 2008-01-07 06:17AM | 0 recs
Re: Any blogger following

I've talked to voters who where at his various events, and apparently it's going well. Don't know of any consistent bloggers, aside from my failed attempts to get to the 4 and 630 am events.

I'm an Obama guy, but I do think this is the kind of stunt that should get more coverage!

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-07 09:51AM | 0 recs
Marist poll very encouraging! Go John Edwards!!
Wonderful news! John is continuing to climb toward and, we hope past, Clinton. HRC has fallen in this newest poll by 9% much bigger than expected drop, but the momentum is there. And John has climbed to within 6% of taking second place. A simple drop of 3% from HRC to JRE would put John in second.

OK thats just my hope for now, Its only 20 hours as of this post, till it begins in New Hampshire. I'm hoping for, and calling for HRC to come in third again. But what ever your interpretation John's huge jump today cannot be ignored.

The bump from Iowa is going strongly to John too. If Clinton is close to failing to get second or actually comes in third, her run will be wounded.

Likely Democratic Primary Voters January 7, 2008 December 2007

Likely w/ Leaners Likely w/ Leaners
Barack Obama 36% 24%
Hillary Clinton 28% 37%
John Edwards 22% 18%





This could easily become the two person race it should be. Then the style / substance division and debate can be made.

http://www.maristpoll.marist.edu/NH/NHPZ 080107.htm
by inexile 2008-01-07 06:39AM | 0 recs
Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

Why did I never realize you were a Dartmouth student?  I work in Baker-Berry, in the Acquistions office behind Novack Cafe.  Stop by sometime (after the madness all ends) and say hi!

by bruorton 2008-01-07 07:30AM | 0 recs
Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

Will do! I generally work in the NCCPR, so maybe you've seen me trekking the cart around downstairs. You may also know my friend Alley, who worked down there?

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-07 09:50AM | 0 recs
Re: Edwards in Claremont - Sort Of

Found a ride, was safe, didn't exactly make it, but all is well - at least until it comes time to deal with me own car.

by Nathan Empsall 2008-01-07 09:48AM | 0 recs

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