New Hampshire: Ann McLane Kuster Brings In $350,000 in First Quarter

New Hampshire: Ann McLane Kuster Brings In $350,000 in First Quarter:
Ann McLane Kuster’s campaign released her first-quarter fundraising in her race to displace Rep. Charles Bass (R).

With $350,000 in donations for the first three months of 2012, she built on last year’s fourth-quarter fundraising haul of $325,000.

In addition to the $350,000 raised, she now has more than $1 million in the bank, according to a campaign press release.

The New Hampshire 2nd district campaign is one of the most closely watched races in the country. Bass’ figures were not immediately available.

Incidentally, the redistricting map could be finalized as early as Wednesday.

Can We Not Call it That?

Bass faces questions on Ryan budget at town hall.

Monday, April 9, 2012 | 1:22 p.m.

"At a time of high unemployment and home foreclosure rates, frustration with Congress and rising anxiety over how to deal with" the nat'l debt "without gutting programs such as Medicare health insurance for the elderly and the Social Security retirement program," town hall meetings "aren't always comfortable for lawmakers. But they can offer a vivid picture" of voters' feelings.

"This year, the issue of the moment" is GOPers' "efforts to trim" the debt, starting with House Budget Cmte chair Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-WI) plan.

The DCCC "is eagerly watching" Rep. Charlie Bass (R). Bass "has hitched his star" to ex-MA Gov.Mitt Romney (R). "He told a gathering of businessmen recently that he would be in big trouble" without Romney "at the top of the ticket."

"Judging by the questions that Bass handled" at a recent town hall meeting, the Ryan budget proposal "will be central to the campaign. But other issues, such as rising gas prices, were on voters' minds, too."

Many "said that they were worried that Bass wanted to lower taxes on the wealthy. They worried about his association" not with Romney but with Ryan. Bass "voted for" Ryan's budget plan. "At one point during the... meeting, Bass seemed uncomfortable with Ryan's prominence." Bass, when asked about the Ryan budget: "I hate to call it that. It's the Republican budget in Congress."

"As gas prices rise, Bass will trumpet his work to increase energy efficiency." On April 4, "he put on a hard hat and peered into a... fire to talk about energy conservation with the owner of Concord Steam Corp. in the state capital" (Jacobs, Reuters, 4/8).

Fighting Over Peanuts

NEW HAMPSHIRE (no change): Fighting Over Peanuts

The state House will vote on new maps on April 11, and now that Reps. Charlie Bass (R-02) andFrank Guinta (R-01) have agreed on the proposal, it is likely to pass by a wide margin. If Gov.John Lynch (D) signs the bill, the map will go to DoJ for pre-clearance (Livingston/Toeplitz,Roll Call, 4/9).

Manchester officials have agreed to sue over the plan, and Concord and Meredith may join the suit (LaMontagne Hall, New Hampshire Union Leader, 4/6).

Bass Fishing

Fed Up

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 | 1:27 p.m.

Bass: “I voted for the Ryan budget because, in principle, it does what I want it to do. But we’re reaching the point where we’re in an impossible situation. I believe members of Congress have to start promoting the agenda of this country. ... The primary reason why most average voters are disgruntled and disappointed with the performance of their elected officials in Washington is because of the fact that we can’t solve our nation’s problems. I’ve had enough of the brinkmanship and the posturing, on both sides, by the way.”

More Bass: “When you offer to compromise, that doesn’t mean you are aggregating or giving up your principles,” he said. “If you look back in history, all of the great accomplishments of prior Congresses have been based upon men and women who had very, very strong principles, but were willing to listen to one another and resolve problems. …That’s where we need to be today.”

Bass said he "agrees with members of both parties about the need to remove American troops from Afghanistan." Bass: “We’re in the wrong country. Pakistan is where the problem is” (Berry, Nashua Telegraph, 4/4).

I've Stopped Trying

Bass laments gridlock in Washington.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012 | 1:31 p.m.

Rep. Charlie Bass (R) "offered somber straight talk to a bipartisan audience of 50 businesspeople at a New England Council Politics & Eggs breakfast in Bedford" April 2.  He "decried the political posturing in Washington that has prevented serious decision making, especially with respect to the budget."  Bass: “We can’t seem to get anything done.”

He "expressed support for both the Ryan budget and for the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction plan, both of which tackle entitlement reform and make hard political choices regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security."  Bass, on Simpson-Bowles: “It’s got everything a politician can hang himself with in this.”  On the Ryan budget: “I’ll be challenged every day for the vote I took last week [for the Ryan budget] by liberals and conservatives. Most Americans want us to get to work.”

When "asked about what will happen next after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on Obamacare, Bass said that if all or parts of the law are overturned, Congress will act to pass some of the more popular parts of the plan, citing the expansion of coverage to young adults and mandates covering pre-existing conditions." Bass, on transportation: "No one is going to support raising the gas tax right now.”   On his endorsement of ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R): “As a Republican, it would be politically difficult for me if any of the others were to win [the nomination]” (Cullen, New Hampshire Journal, 4/2).

Bass Fishing For Compromise

Bass votes for Ryan budget, also for one modeled after Simpson-Bowles.

Monday, April 2, 2012 | 10:57 a.m.

Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH) supported the "party-line" budget proposed by House Budget Chair Paul Ryan, after "first voting" for a bipartisan budget plan that "contained an ambitious deficit reduction proposal." Bass was among only 38 members to back the latter measure.

Bass, on the House floor: "We all of principles. Compromise is not a capitulation of principle." Bass had been noncommittal when asked if he would support the Ryan plan. Bass: "I voted for Chairman Ryan's plan because it's a great statement of principle. But unfortunately, it is going nowhere because the Senate Democratic leadership won't bring it up for a vote or even a debate" (Ryan, Nashua Telegraph, 4/2).

Bass's polling problem

Bass's polling problem:
GOP Rep. Charlie Bass's campaign account could soon be $400,000 lighter.
New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney (D) is suing the Bass Victory Committee, alleging the campaign violated Granite State’s notoriously strict push polling law by trying to hide their role in a September 2010 call. The law calls for a fine of up to $1,000 for each of the 400 residents the call reached.
The Bass Victory Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee jointly paid for the September 2010 survey. But Bass campaign manager David Kavensky asked for credit for the ad to go to the NRCC, according to a subpoenaed e-mail cited in the lawsuit.
“Could we change the disclaimer at the end to NRCC since they are paying for half of it?,” Kavensky wrote, according to the lawsuit. “I'd rather have any issues about 'push polling' be blamed on them (sorry Brock), rather than us - especially with the date rape drug question in there.”
“The date rape drug question” likely refers to Kuster’s lobbying work for a company that made rohypnol, a frequent Republican talking point during the race.
Bass squeaked by Kuster in 2010, reclaiming his old seat by slightly more than 3,000 votes. Kuster is running against him again in 2012. Bass had just over $600,000 cash on hand at the end of 2011.
Bass spokesman Scott Tranchemontagne responded in a statement: "The Bass Victory Committee strongly denies the Attorney General’s allegation and will vigorously defend the civil suit.  The poll in question was a legitimate message testing survey, not a push poll.  Our survey was the same type of message testing poll conducted by virtually every major candidate for a federal office.   It tested voters’ attitudes and opinions among a relatively small sample of voters, unlike a push poll, which targets a much larger group of voters, with the intent of negatively persuading the voter.”
CORRECTION: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the call in question was a robocall.
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