State Rep. Mike Moffett (R-Loudon) is a former Marine Corps officer and retired professor. He chairs the House Committee on State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs.
Ronald Reagan’s political career seemed to be over in the early 1980s. Despite Gerald Ford stealing the 1976 Republican nomination from him, Reagan made a final challenge to the presidency in 1980 at the age of 69, arguing that Democrats were too old (ironic warning). Then George H.W. Bush defeated Reagan in the Iowa caucuses. Reagan’s political obituary was reported across the country.
Next, the New Hampshire primary election, the first in the nation, was held.
The memorable Nashua debate made history. Reagan won New Hampshire in a landslide. Everything has changed. Reagan won two landslide presidential elections, turned the economy around, and won the Cold War. No wonder President Reagan said, “God bless New Hampshire.”
George H.W. Bush appeared to be politically dead in 1988, losing badly in the Iowa caucuses and finishing second to Bob Dole and Pat Roberston. Bush came to New Hampshire and made a plaintive plea to the people of the Granite State for help.
“If you come in my place, you’ll forever hear me say, ‘Thank you, New Hampshire,’ when I get to Washington.”
With critical support from Governor John Sununu, Bush won New Hampshire and subsequently the presidency, keeping his promise to be forever grateful to New Hampshire.
Bill Clinton seemed dead politically in 1992, when the first major sex scandal broke, after winning 3% of the Iowa caucus vote. Like Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton traveled to New Hampshire to plead for aid, telling the crowd in Dover that if the people of the Granite State gave him a chance, “I will stand by your side until the last dog dies.” I’m there for it.”
Clinton’s strong performance on FITN allowed her to declare herself the “Comeback Kid,” and she went on to easily win two presidential elections.
And so it will be. New Hampshire shapes presidential campaigns like no other state.
That leads to 2024. A clear majority of frightened Americans fear the prospect of a rematch between Biden and Trump. Can we do better? But we seem to be stuck in that scary scenario.
Unless New Hampshire voters take action to change things for the better.
I followed FITN closely for many months before announcing my support in late October. This support has come at a cost and resulted in threats, but that’s okay. I have been in harm’s way before.
Trumpists tell me I’m being “watched” and that I’ll “pay a price.” I feel like Dr. Zhivago in that classic movie when the Russian People’s Commissar tells him, “Your behavior has been noticed.” Ah, you noticed! ”
Welcome to Trumpworld 2024.
On the Democratic side, another classic movie comes to mind. It’s a movie about a college fraternity pledging.
Well, it was Animal House.
The rite of passage of the pledge required him to stoop to being beaten by the leaders of a fraternity that could be likened to the Democratic Party’s “establishment.” I keep picturing Joe Biden brandishing a paddle at hunched over New Hampshire Democrats and reacting to the spanking he promised in the movie. Can I have one more please? ”
It’s pathetic to see establishment Democrats in New Hampshire trying to force voters to write Biden’s name on their ballots, which Biden despised. The better Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips does on the Democratic side, the better for the future of the FITN primary.
We’ll soon find out whether New Hampshire can save the country from the Biden-Trump conflict. Not only does the future of our country’s FITN require us to step up and change direction, but more importantly, the future of our country requires it too. History shows that informed New Hampshire voters can rise up to change the world.
Just ask President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush, or President Bill Clinton.
