Sabato rating: NH1 toss-up, NH2 leans Democratic
In its debut House ratings for the 2014 cycle, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball identifies New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District as one of just seven toss-up races.
That’s an improvement for Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter. In ratings updated just before the 2012 election, editor Kyle Kondik handicapped the race as “Leans Republican” and wrote that he favored incumbent Frank Guinta to “hang on” against Shea-Porter.
Congresswoman Ann Kuster is also listed as one of the 69 House members who is, at least potentially, vulnerable. The state’s 2nd Congressional District is rated as “Leans Democratic.”
Carol Shea-Porter: We owe them a vote
After 20 little innocents and six caring adults were gunned down at school in Newtown, Americans didn’t just grieve for the victims – they changed their minds about our gun laws. …
On television, solemn politicians vowed to do something to prevent the next tragedy. …
Action seemed imminent. Then, suddenly, something made many politicians freeze in their tracks. That something was the National Rifle Association. …
Who will win this battle? Will it be the people, the majority of whom want tighter gun laws, or will it be the NRA and their friends in Congress? We owe the victims of Newtown and the astounding 2,200 Americans who have been killed by guns since then more than posturing. We owe them a vote.
— New Hampshire Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter
Dean Barker: Elected officials failed Granite Staters
Dean Barker reviews the responses of New Hampshire’s top elected officials to gun safety proposals and concludes “only President Obama and Rep. Shea-Porter advocated on behalf of the majority of Granite Staters when it mattered:”
When President Obama unveiled his plan for commonsense gun safety in the wake of 20 murdered children, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter immediately responded with support for it. She was vindicated in her leadership on this by two subsequent polls (UNH, NEC) showing clear majority support in New Hampshire for the key elements of the President’s plan.
Senators Shaheen and Ayotte, Rep. Kuster, and Gov. Hassan (who, it will be remembered, made a very publicized choice to be speak out on the federal issue of DOMA) were all silent on the President’s plan unless pressed by reporters.
