Nashua Telegraph - Shaheen Touts 'New Direction'

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Nashua Telegraph - Shaheen Touts 'New Direction'
By: Joseph G. Cote

There wasn't much space left, but there was plenty of enthusiasm at Merrimack Town Hall on Friday evening thanks to a visit from former Gov Jeanne Shaheen.

About 60 people packed into a conference room at the Merrimack Town Hall to hear the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate talk about why she wants to replace Republican incumbent Sen. John E. Sununu.

Shaheen's whirlwind comments were preceded by an introduction by Merrimack High School senior Curtis Glover. Glover, who has autism, said he's long supported Shaheen and credits her for many of the resources he's had access to during his education.

The 17-year-old urged those gathered to vote for Shaheen on his behalf because the Nov. 4 general election falls 25 days before his 18th birthday.

"I know she will always put the people of New Hampshire first," Glover said.

Shaheen addressed several critical areas during her roughly 20-minute speech, including the faltering economy, energy independence, education funding, health care and the war in Iraq.

She also attempted to draw a distinctive line between herself and Sununu, who she said would perpetuate the policies of the last eight years.Shaheen said she would take the country in a "new direction," the slogan on numerous signs and stickers in the conference room.

"That's what I want to do, and that's why I'm in this election," she said.

Shaheen said her debates with Sununu about the economy and her nonsupport of Congress' bailout package represented a fundamental difference between the two candidates.

Sununu, she said, prefers to give tax breaks to oil companies, big business and the upper class and wait for the economic benefit to trickle down.

"I think it's time to reverse those policies," she said.

Instead, Shaheen said she would support the middle-class tax breaks Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has made part of his campaign platform.

Perhaps the loudest round of applause came when Shaheen said she supports a definitive pull-out date for U.S. troops in Iraq and that combating global terror groups and holding to the principals of the Constitution aren't mutually exclusive.

"I don't think it's one or the other," she said.

Sharon Larkin, a Merrimack resident, said she's long been a supporter of Shaheen's but hadn't heard her speak in person before Friday's appearance.

"I was impressed," Larkin said. "I think she's on the right track. I think she has a clear vision. I think she sees things and understands (them) at a real-people level. I'm afraid too many politicians don't. They're too ivory tower."

Larkin said she was particularly interested in what Shaheen had to say about making college more affordable since she has two daughters in college.

"She hit home on a lot of levels," she said.

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