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By Michael Zwirn (MALD '01)
Supporters from New Hampshire and elsewhere on the East Coast gathered in the parking lot of an old mill where temporary offices had been established. To the sound of Bruce Springsteen over the loudspeakers, hundreds of Bradley's volunteers milled around and began organizing a day of door-to-door campaigning across the state. Journalists from local papers as well as the larger national dailies did their rounds, prompting volunteers and bystanders for their views of the campaign and the candidate. Bradley arrived to loud cheers and applause, spurred on by the vocal college students who are an active part of his campaign. Bradley's brief remarks touched on his firm belief in the value of public service and politics as a profession, and a reiteration of his core beliefs: providing health coverage for all Americans, protecting children from poverty, preserving the environment, promoting racial harmony and restoring integrity to the political process through campaign finance reform. It was not a policy address, but a chance to boost the morale of his volunteers and reward them for their efforts. Shortly afterward, the volunteers headed to their cars and sped off to staging areas around the state.
My father and I were assigned to the 7th Ward, a gracious area of middle-class single family houses, many of them decorated in harvest colors, with pumpkins and ornaments on the doorways left over from Halloween. In the four or five hours I spent knocking on doors, I discovered some important things about the New Hampshire electorate, as well as the appeal that a candidate like Bradley holds for its voters. The voters of Ward 7--at least those who were home on a gorgeous fall afternoon--were unfailingly polite and receptive, even when interrupted at home with their families. They knew the importance of their vote, and they took politics seriously. All of them were familiar with Bradley's candidacy, and many were eager to learn more about the man and his ideas. Among the registered Democratic voters whom I met, not one expressed great enthusiasm about the campaign of Vice President Al Gore. Many Democrats remain undecided on the merits of Gore and Bradley and are biding their time, listening to the debates and the advertisements before making a decision. But a significant number of die-hard Bradley supporters have emerged, and his appeal seems based more on personal attributes than policy positions. One voter told me his support for Bradley was based on his willingness to challenge party positions, another said he respected the fact that Bradley had not been bred for politics, like Gore or Governor George W. Bush of Texas. All of the Bradley supporters stressed character and integrity among his most important characteristics. In New Hampshire, where election laws allow independents to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary, almost 40 percent of the electorate chooses not to proclaim a party affiliation. The vaunted New Hampshire tradition of supporting anti-establishment candidates lives on, and among registered independents of the 7th Ward the two most popular candidates appeared to be Bradley and Arizona Senator John McCain, the Republican challenging Bush. Among those voters, both Bradley and McCain are seen as candidates of personal integrity and honor, respected for their willingness to challenge their parties. Despite the great differences in their political views, those two candidates are viewed as trustworthy and honest. The New Hampshire reputation for frugality is grounded in truth as well. Even Bradley's strongest supporters said that taxes are too high and that workers should keep more of their paychecks at home. Independents in New Hampshire range from socialist to hard-core conservative, and I met a number of people whose votes were determined by social policy issues like abortion, school choice and religion. Bradley did not fare well among those voters. One gentleman told me in no uncertain terms, "I don't vote for liberals, and he's one of them." Another man (who identified himself as a conservative Catholic) told my father that his three preferred candidates were the unlikely trio of McCain, Bradley, and television commentator Alan Keyes. On the whole, a campaign like Bradley's is likely to do well in New Hampshire, with its tradition of independent thinking and anti-establishment voting. After the door-to-door canvassing, a number of the volunteers returned to Manchester for an evening social and fundraiser. At $25 a person, this was a modest event in dollar terms but an important chance to continue Bradley's grassroots organizing. Entertainment was provided by pianist Bruce Hornsby; celebrity endorsements came in the form of actor Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs, The Piano) and professional basketball legend Bob Cousy. Among the most popular campaign buttons at the event was one with a basketball reading "Another Celtics fan for Bradley"--the candidate himself a one-time star of the archrival New York Knicks. At the fundraiser, Bradley gave an extemporaneous address thanking his supporters and reiterating the message that Americans are a good people, and the goal of public service should be to channel the nation's instincts to promote the welfare of all its members. Regrettably, this message was diluted by his attack on big corporations and lobbyists, which somewhat undermined his message of unification and a shared sense of purpose. By the end of the evening, though, with Hornsby tinkling the ivories and volunteers excitedly networking and partying, the energy and commitment that has made Bill Bradley the sole Democratic challenger to Clinton's heir, Vice President Al Gore was vividly clear. Comments? Write us at letter@fletcherledger.com |
