New Hampshire Primary

Interview with CNN's Lucy Spiegel on Debate Preparations

May 31, 2007 By Laura Lemire

Saint Anselm College is buzzing with excitement as it prepares for the upcoming debates. This morning I visited the Sullivan Arena to find CNN and N.H. regional crews hard at work to create what is expected to be a beautiful set.

As I stood watching all the action, there were three rounds of lights raised to the ceiling, a podium set up, and the 40-foot backdrop frame completely assembled in front of my eyes. Several large red and white vinyl cubes sat like gigantic blocks waiting to be added to the skeleton-like frame.

While seats and platforms were also set up I managed to speak with CNN’s Vice President of Weekend Public Affairs programs, Lucy Spiegel, about the stage and her role in the debate planning process.

To hear interview with Lucy Spiegel, click on the audio file included with this post.

Filed Under: Announcements, N.H. Presidential Primary Debates, New Hampshire Primary, Podcasts

From CNN: Saint Anselm Plays Big Role in New Hampshire Politics

May 31, 2007 By Doug Minor

Saint Anselm College's own Anne Botteri was quoted on CNN.com regarding the college's prominent role in presidential and local politics. An excerpt of the story is included below. For the complete story, visit the CNN Web site.

(CNN) — A small Catholic college in New Hampshire is about to take center stage for presidential candidates hoping to woo voters during next month's presidential debates.

Already, the 2,000 students who attend Saint Anselm College are tripping over the presidential candidates as they make their way to classes.

"It is not even a little unlikely that a student at this college would meet the next president of the United States, not once, but as many as three or four times in an election cycle," said Anne Botteri, executive director of the school's New Hampshire Institute of Politics. "And that's a pretty exciting thing if you think about it."

The college is about 10 minutes from the airport in Manchester, New Hampshire's largest city, making it an attractive destination for candidates hoping to make a name for themselves in the nation's first 2008 presidential primary.

"My philosophy is if they want to come, say yes," Botteri said. "There are some weeks where we are literally doing things every day, or multiple candidates on the same day at different locations."

Botteri said that Saint Anselm has always been involved in the New Hampshire primary, along with other state and local races.

"The college is really, genuinely committed to rolling out the red carpet and having an all hands on deck mentality here for staff and faculty to welcome this," she said.

CNN is sponsoring the debate, along with WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper.

The Democrats will debate on June 3 and Republican hopefuls will square off on June 5.

Jane Maxwell, senior vice president CNN Special Events, said the network and its partners chose Saint Anselm partly because of its strong interest in the political process. "They're very enthusiastic, they have ample facilities. It's in Manchester, which obviously is where we want to have it. The campus is lovely," she said.

Read more at CNN.com >>

Filed Under: Announcements, N.H. Presidential Primary Debates, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary

Saint Anselm to Host Presidential Debates June 3 and 5 at Sullivan Arena

May 2, 2007 By Doug Minor

The presidential primary debates at Saint Anselm College have been rescheduled for Sunday, June 3, and Tuesday, June 5, at the Sullivan Arena. Both debates will take place 7-9 p.m.

Sponsored by CNN, WMUR-TV, and the New Hampshire Union Leader, the debates will include every major candidate currently running for president. U.S. Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama yesterday confirmed they would take part in the June 3 Democratic debate, joining fellow candidates Gov. Bill Richardson, Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Biden, former Sens. John Edwards and Mike Gravel, and Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

On June 5, GOP contenders former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sens. John McCain and Sam Brownback, Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Govs. Mitt Romney and Jim Gilmore, and Congressmen Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul, and Duncan Hunter will debate.

The Union Leader reported that additional invitations would be issued to candidates if appropriate.

“As a liberal arts college with a mission to engage students and citizens in the civic life of our nation, we are thrilled to showcase once again our great college and our Benedictine hospitality on a national stage,” college President Fr. Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., said.

“We hope these debates are a preview of many more campus events designed to help voters navigate the important vetting process that characterizes New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary,” he said.

The debates were rescheduled from April to accommodate candidates’ schedules. In 2004, Saint Anselm was the venue for the last Democratic presidential debate before the New Hampshire primary, in partnership with WMUR, the Union Leader, ABC News, and Fox News Channel.

Filed Under: Announcements, N.H. Presidential Primary Debates, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary

Billboard Highlights College's Role in Presidential Politics

April 27, 2007 By Doug Minor

Saint Anselm College's New Billboard at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

The next time you visit the baggage claim area at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, keep an eye out for Saint Anselm College's new billboard.

As is typical during a presidential primary season, we have chosen to capitalize on the college’s access and expertise with regard to candidates and campaigns. We hope that this design captures the theme of “political theater” and invites the public to join the excitement on campus.

The new billboard will be in place in May.

Filed Under: Announcements, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary

Gov. Mike Huckabee Discusses Health Care With Nursing Students

April 23, 2007 By Doug Minor

After starting his day with a 5K “fun run” with supporters in downtown Manchester, republican presidential hopeful and former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee discussed health care with nursing students. He visited Saint Anselm College on April 17.

Gov. Huckabee spoke about the nation’s health crisis as well as his own experience losing 110 pounds after being diagnosed with diabetes. “If I can regain my own health, so can this country, but this country better do it in a hurry,” said Huckabee, who wrote about his experience in his book Quit Digging Your Own Grave With a Knife and Fork.

Huckabee spoke about a healthcare system that is broken. “We have a completely upside-down healthcare system in this country where we train doctors to treat disease, not prevent it, and reimburse people to be sick, not well.”

He also focused on childhood obesity and what he called a pandemic that is killing kids. “We’re raising the first generation of kids who won’t live as long as their parents or grandparents,” said Huckabee.

He urged students to “go change the stinking system and make it right,” but cautioned that real change would happen over a generation, not in a four-year presidential term. Huckabee cited changing attitudes toward seat-belt use, litter, smoking, and drunk driving as examples of how societal views have change over time.

In the short term, he advocates making health care less expensive by enacting medical liability reform, shifting to electronic medical records, making health insurance policies more portable, and helping people open health savings accounts.

Often displaying a great sense of humor and wit, Huckabee described his own efforts to stay healthy by offering two nutrition rules: “If it comes through a car window, it’s not food. And if it wasn’t food 100 years ago, it’s not food, it’s a product.”

As part of our ongoing series, we make the speeches of presidential candidates who visit the New Hampshire Institute of Politics available to you. After you’ve listened to each podcast, we invite you to leave comments. The New Hampshire Institute of Politics is non-partisan and does not endorse political issues or candidates. Visit the institute's Web site at www.anselm.edu/nhiop for news and a list of upcoming events.

Filed Under: Featured Politics, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary, Podcasts, Presidential Candidates

Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd Speaks with Students

April 19, 2007 By Doug Minor

Sen. Chris Dodd joined politics and international relations students at Saint Anselm College for the NHIOP's Primary Roast Coffee with the Candidates, on April 4.

The senior senator from Connecticut had a roundtable discussion with students about current issues and his bid for the Democratic nomination for president. Following the discussion Dodd taught Professor Fitzpatrick's business and society class. Local media along with Connecticut news channel 8 and 30 reported on Dodd's stop at Saint Anselm College.

Dodd shared his appreciation for New Hampshire and its voters. "I am grateful to New Hampshire and Iowa, so my voice can be heard," Dodd said. With his fundraising low compared to Democratic frontrunners, he said New Hampshire is the place where he can relay his message to voters.

Sen. Hillary Clinton Outlines 10-Point Government Reform Plan

April 13, 2007 By Doug Minor

In a major policy speech before a capacity crowd at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, Sen. Hillary Clinton proposed a series of measures to restore Americans’ confidence in their government by increasing transparency and cutting waste and corruption.

Clinton would ban cabinet officials from lobbying her administration and strengthen whistleblower protections to encourage those uncovering fraud and abuse.

Clinton vowed to end no-bid contracts and post all contracts and agency budgets online. She also pledged to implement an America Results initiative to track the effectiveness of government programs and make the findings public.

"When I'm President, the entrance to the White House will no longer be a revolving door for just the well-connected — but a door of opportunity for the well-qualified," Clinton said.

Clinton pledged to cut the number of government contractors by 500,000, saving between $10 and $18 billion a year, and track and eliminate unnecessary corporate subsidies through a new agency focused on evaluating corporate welfare.

Finally, Clinton proposed harnessing the latest information technology to make government scientists' findings public on critical issues like global warming and food and drug safety.

Clinton's 10-point plan includes:

Banning Cabinet Officials from Lobbying a Hillary Clinton Administration
Strengthen Whistleblower Protections
Creating a Public Service Academy
Ending No-Bid Government Contracts and Post All Contracts Online
Cutting 500,000 Government Contractors
Restore the Office of Technology Assessment
Publishing Budgets for Every Government Agency
Implementing Results America Initiative to Track Government Effectiveness
Tracking and Eliminating Corporate Welfare
Expanding Voting Access and Safeguarding Machines

Filed Under: Featured Politics, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary, Podcasts

Sen. John Edwards Presents “Big Ideas” on Addressing U.S. and Global Poverty

March 19, 2007 By Doug Minor

On March 15, at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards spoke about reducing poverty in the United States and around the world. Sen. Edwards proposed a four-part plan for dealing with global poverty, starting with a “sweeping effort” to bring education to 23 millions children in poor countries.

Among Sen. Edwards suggestions was a worldwide summit on preventative health care in the developing world, providing economic opportunities and micro-financing for small businesses, and creating a Cabinet-level position to deal with combating global poverty.

In his speech, Edwards set the goal of bringing 12 million people out of poverty in the next decade and “eliminating U.S. poverty within 30 years.”

After you have listened to or read Sen. Edwards' speech, we invite you to offer your comments. Comment below or by e-mailing your comments to saintanselmpodcast@gmail.com.

Filed Under: Featured Politics, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary, Podcasts, Presidential Candidates

Defending New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation Primary

March 19, 2007 By Doug Minor

In this podcast, we feature a panel discussion on the historical and political significance of the Granite State's first-in-the-nation presidential primary tradition. The event was held at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on March 14, 2007.

New Hampshire Governor John Lynch opened the event, which was moderated by Jennifer Donahue, senior advisor for political affairs at the NHIOP.

The distinguished guest panelists included Carl Cameron, Senior Political Correspondent with FOX News Channel; Bill Schneider, Senior Political Analyst with CNN; John DiStaso, Senior Political Reporter at the Union Leader; Ovide LaMontagne, former Quayle for President New Hampshire Chair; Dante Scala, Associate Professor of Politics at Saint Anselm College; and Bill Shaheen, former Kerry for President New Hampshire Chair.

Your Comments?
What are your views on the importance of New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary and the current trend of frontloading the presidential primaries. After you listen to this podcast, you may comment below or e-mail your comments to saintanselmpodcast@gmail.com.

Filed Under: New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary, Podcasts

Senator John Edwards to Give a Major Policy Speech at NHIOP

March 13, 2007 By Doug Minor

On Thurs., March 15, at 11:30 a.m., Senator John Edwards will give a speech outlining his plans for bold change for America. He will discuss the need for transformational change in our policies and politics, and in the way America leads the world, including an emphasis on ending U.S. poverty and combating world poverty.

This event will be held in the NHIOP Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

Filed Under: New Hampshire Institute of Politics, New Hampshire Primary