Overheard in the Lobby
The Radisson Hotel in Manchester is “ground zero” for the media. Standing in the lobby, candidates, aides and plenty of journalists wandered in and out, all eagerly anticipating Tuesday’s vote.
Ben Carson Republican presidential candidate: “It’s become a money game, and I hate it” (when asked about campaign finance reform).
Tim Miller Communications Director for Jeb Bush: “Were excited to have Trump back on the debate stage. Jeb has been the only one to take on Trump. At the debate tonight, Jeb is looking to distinguish himself by touting his conservative record. Cruz and Rubio, working in the Senate, they have no accomplishments to their name. [Governor Chris Christie’s] New Jersey is a disaster. Kasich’s from Ohio, and he’s a moderate. Rubio hasn’t done anything.”
David Maraniss Washington Post editor and Pulitzer Prize winner: “There’s this notion of the center not holding, on both the right and the left. But New Hampshire has a long-standing connection to the Clintons, and I think she’ll do better than the polls are showing right now.” Maraniss is currently working on a project, “30 Days in America,” in which he is focusing on the voters, rather than the candidates. He began reporting in Iowa and is now in New Hampshire.
Jordan Frasier NBC embed reporter for the Jeb Bush campaign: “Bush has doubled- and tripled-down on New Hampshire. It’s do or die. [The key factor] is how he does against Marco Rubio. He has to do better than Rubio.” When asked about Bush’s negative campaign tactics, which have ramped up since Iowa, Frasier said of their impact, “It’s too early to tell.”
Bob Haefner New Hampshire State Representative for District 37, representing Hudson and Pelham, and the chairman of the Environment and Agriculture Committee in the New Hampshire House: “I endorsed Carly Fiorina in May of last year when she announced her candidacy. I used to work for her at Hewlett-Packard. The Republican National Committee and the national press have ignored her — she’s not on the debate stage tonight. She has executive experience, she’s goal-oriented, she can set and make goals and surround herself with good people.” When asked why this year’s election has been different, he said, “Trump. Trump, and a little bit of Sanders. That and the news media’s coverage.”
Bob Schieffer Journalist who worked for CBS News from 1969 to 2015: “This is my eleventh New Hampshire Primary — my first one was in 1976. What’s great about New Hampshire is that the voters have such a big role. It’s so interesting to see how the candidates react to the voters’ questions. … People are very frustrated this year, frustrated that nothing seems to happen. [We see this] with Trump, Cruz and Bernie. [This primary is different] because of Trump — he’s sucked the air out of it.”
