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John DiStaso, the New Hampshire Union Leader's senior political writer, began writing "Granite Status" in 1982. His influential reports on behind-the-scenes politics in the first-primary state are a must read for insiders from Concord to Washington, D.C. Watch for "Granite Status" updates on UnionLeader.com whenever New Hampshire political news breaks.
Recent Granite Status
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John DiStaso's Granite Status: New pro-Ayotte ad on immigration reform; former NHGOP chair says she should 'stand on her own two feet'
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Granite Status: An anti-Shaheen ad getting attention
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John DiStaso's Granite Status: Conservative NH group airs first TV ad of '14 US Senate election, hitting Shaheen for health care vote
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John DiStaso's Granite Status: Jim Rubens eyes '14 US Senate run; Andy Sanborn tweets 'Haggie,' apologizes
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John DiStaso's Granite Status: Sans dice, how will Hassan roll now?
John DiStaso's Granite Status: NHDP to beef up communications team for 2014
Harrell Kirstein will return as NHDP Communications Director. He had been with the party for two years before leaving to become state press secretary for the campaign of President Barack Obama.
Also, the party will soon build a "local rapid response and letter to the editor teams across the state, highlighting the work Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Gov. Maggie Hassan and the rest of New Hampshire's strong Democratic office holders are doing for Granite State families."
The party says it is holding grassroots message trainings with activists, increasing its already aggressive online and social media presence to reach out to the voters who don't always vote in mid-term elections. It says it will soon add more staff "to hold Republican elected officials accountable not just for what they say but also for their irresponsible actions like the Republican's $40 million budget deficit.
The party says that since January the it has held more than 85 local committee caucuses, electing town officers to organize their local communities.
"They will be having the same person to person conversations that were the cornerstone of New Hampshire Democrats' victories in 2012 and had been for years before, the part says.
"We are building on the momentum from our second straight special election victory yesterday, yet another example of New Hampshire voters' rejection of the Republican Party's Tea Party agenda," said NHDP Chairman Raymond Buckley. "The NHGOP has become the home of reckless and irresponsible theories and the voice of the 'Birthers' and other fringe right-wingers who have no connection to reality or vision for improving the state."
(For earlier Granite Status reports, click on "Granite Status" above.)
