NH Governers Race

**Hiltonizer** · 05-21-2012, 10:41 PM

Kevin Smith and Ovide Lamontagne seem to be the 2 names on the (R) side, and Maggie Hassan on for the (D)'s

Their respective websites and recent news articles don't paint much of all a picture. Well... I got a good enough idea of who Hassan is to know I need to know nothing else. But Smith and Ovide... Ovide seemed "OK" 2 years ago in the senate race, but I had only JUST moved before that election.

What are everyones thoughts? I just tweeted Kevin Smith about HB536 and his position on constitutional carry... to say, what are his positions?

I must say, I like Smith coming out against the Certificate of Need law, very libertarianesque.

**mikem317** · 05-21-2012, 11:18 PM

Hassan is definitely the less moonbatterish than the other one.

It's going to be her against Lamontagne or Smith, unless she screws something up.

I don't know enough about Smith and Lamontagne seemed attractive at first, but he seems a little too neoconish when it comes to Iran.

**Hiltonizer** · 05-21-2012, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by mikem317

I don't know enough about Smith and Lamontagne seemed attractive at first, but he seems a little too neoconish when it comes to Iran.

Definitely not an admirable position for those looking for a libertarian minded nominee such as myself, but I'm willing to look past it as I think that was playing to the republican base in his senate run. In an ideal world, that wouldn't be the case... but such as it is... its not an immediate disqualifier.

Being the gubernatorial primary race, I'm really concerned about his positions on state level issues. This house has been up to really good stuff for the most part, and fortunately the veto proof majority has made Lynch a non-factor on some key issues. I'm afraid we won't have such a veto-proof majority next go around (can it get any better realistically?), so I want to be sure whoever I pull the trigger for will stick up for those of us with a "granite state of mind".

It's refreshing though, that I get to vote for incumbents in the house and senate. This to spite my house reps son calling animal control the 2 times my chickens got lose and had a feast on their hosta's.

**soloman02** · 05-22-2012, 01:38 AM

Aside from Ovide (didn't he run as a libertarian for some NH office?) I've never heard of the other candidates.

**Hiltonizer** · 07-13-2012, 10:34 PM

WMUR has done interviews (roughly 30 mins each) with the candidates, and a debate the other day (all streamable online)

http://www.wmur.com/news/politics

I just discovered today there is a Libertarian candidate who will be on the ballot also... http://www.johnbabiarz.com/

So far I think I'm leaning towards Ovide with a hint of the lesser of two evils mentality toward the general election. Kevin Smith had previously stated he was on the fence about constitutional carry, and Ovide has high ratings with the NRA and GONH... combine with the fact I don't think there's a whole lot of downside given most of his positions... so the "lesser of two evils" is just relative.

In spirit, I'd prefer to vote for the Libertarian candidate but with few exceptions on state-level issues it seems kind of redundant up here.

**mikem317** · 07-14-2012, 12:39 AM

Babiarz was on the ballot last cycle too, which some Republicans say, cost Stephens the win.

Fast forward to today: Kevin Smith was endorsed by Rudy Guiliani. Not sure what the means, but I sure think very low of Rudy.

**soloman02** · 07-14-2012, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by Hiltonizer

WMUR has done interviews (roughly 30 mins each) with the candidates, and a debate the other day (all streamable online)

http://www.wmur.com/news/politics

I just discovered today there is a Libertarian candidate who will be on the ballot also... http://www.johnbabiarz.com/

So far I think I'm leaning towards Ovide with a hint of the lesser of two evils mentality toward the general election. Kevin Smith had previously stated he was on the fence about constitutional carry, and Ovide has high ratings with the NRA and GONH... combine with the fact I don't think there's a whole lot of downside given most of his positions... so the "lesser of two evils" is just relative.

In spirit, I'd prefer to vote for the Libertarian candidate but with few exceptions on state-level issues it seems kind of redundant up here.

I could have sworn Ovide ran as the libertarian candidate for something last cycle. I cannot for the life of me remember what though.

**mikem317** · 07-14-2012, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by soloman02

I could have sworn Ovide ran as the libertarian candidate for something last cycle. I cannot for the life of me remember what though.

In 2010 he was running for US Senate as a GOPer (the race that Ayotte eventually won).

**soloman02** · 07-14-2012, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by mikem317

In 2010 he was running for US Senate as a GOPer (the race that Ayotte eventually won).

That's what it was, the 2010 senate race. Looks like I am mistaken on his running for anything as a libertarian.

**Hiltonizer** · 07-14-2012, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by soloman02

That's what it was, the 2010 senate race. Looks like I am mistaken on his running for anything as a libertarian.

I could possibly see him being the more libertarian friendly alternative to Ayotte. He pays lip service to Libertarians quite often... not sure that I see it but I'm probably more of a minarchist than most self-described libertarians.

Quite frankly, the best thing a NH candidate could say to earn my vote would be "secession". I'd be the first to sign up for LPOP duty on 108 if it came to it.

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