Thank you!
The PrioritiesNH campaign was officially launched at the Party at the Pearl in Portsmouth on June 6, 2006.
Between that date and the 2008 NH Presidential Primary, a staff of 3 and an inspiring band of volunteers, business leaders and elected officials changed the national political conversation.
We said, "This time, the candidates are going to listen to us." And they did.
We watched Barack Obama use our budget pie cookie when talking about the federal budget. We heard John McCain pledge to cut Pentagon waste and improve veterans' health care. We saw Bill Richardson wear our lapel pin during the debate in Hanover. Rudy Giuliani's staff welcomed Cookie Mom with open arms. We saw John Edwards incorporate our budget shift message into his stump speech.
Most importantly, 67% of New Hampshire voters (up from 60% in June ’06) now say they’d support a candidate who favors reducing defense spending by 15% and shifting the money to health care, education, job training, energy independence and the federal budget deficit over a candidate who doesn’t.
We accomplished that 7-percent bump without a dime for TV, radio or newspaper advertising, and at a fraction of what the candidates spent to get their messages out.
We accomplished it because of your work, your spirit and your commitment. One political columnist called us the best humored and most effective interest group in the primary, "hands down."
Now PrioritiesNH enters a new phase. We're discussing the merger of the Priorities community with an established New Hampshire progressive advocacy organization. When that happens, you all will be invited to participate.
In the meantime, we've closed our New Hampshire office. Any correspondence related to PrioritiesNH should go to Amanda McKay at (802) 860-6882.
Olivia, Melissa, Cookie Mom and I have enjoyed working and playing with you all and have the deepest appreciation for your friendship and for the many ways you have supported us.
If you have personal messages, I can be reached by email or at 748-0317, Olivia at 661-8621, and Melissa on the cell phone number on her business card.
Keep pushing for sensible budget priorities, and thank you for your wonderful, brilliant, relentless advocacy!
Steve
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PrioritiesNH
By the numbers
137,101: Page views on Web site
100,000+: Budget pens distributed
17,000+: Budget pie magnets on vehicles
6,000+: New members, including 65 business people and 95 state elected officials
550: Mentions in newspapers, radio news and blogs
500+: Presidential campaign events attended
400: Active volunteers
200: Priorities questions asked of candidates in NH
100+: Campaign events where voters met Cookie Mom
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