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Monday, January 31, 2000

New Hampshire voters go to the polls Tuesday to vote for their choice in the race for the Republican presidential race. Arizona Sen. John McCain hold a narrowing lead in public opinion polls over national front-runner George W. Bush, the Texas governor. Wealthy publisher Steve Forbes is trying to capitalize on his strong third-place showing in last week's Iowa caucuses, while commentator Alan Keyes and former Reagan administration official Gary Bauer try to turn their support among conservative activists into critical primary votes.

New Hampshire State GOP Chair Steve Duprey joined "Free Media" live Monday, Jan. 31, to discuss his party's primary -- as well as the future of New Hampshire's status as the "first-in-the-nation" primary state.

Free Media: Good afternoon Mr. Duprey, and thanks for joining us.
Residents of New Hampshire seem to pride themselves on setting the tone of presidential races through their first-in-the-nation primary. However, both political parties have recently expressed concern over the increasingly front-loaded primary system, hinting at possible changes in the system's structure by 2004. Do you perceive New Hampshire's crucial role as endangered?

Steve Duprey: I think there will be a lot of review of both the Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. Hopefully, the Republican National Committee will see how well the caucus and the New Hampshire primary work. We are the state that gives a lesser well known, lesser funded candidate a fair shot at becoming president. For example, this time if it weren't for New Hampshire, the only two Republicans that could run would be George Bush and Steve Forbes. Almost 75 percent of New Hampshire voters vote in this primary. Almost 30 percent meet and talk with the candidate. Every candidate will tell you, this is the only place they really get to talk to people ... one-on-one or in small groups. Here and in Iowa, we think its invaluable to the process. And we are confident that both parties will keep Iowa and New Hampshire first. It's good for the country.

Charlottesville, Va.: In the long run, who poses a greater challenge to George W. Bush -- McCain or Forbes? Also, how well do you think Bush has balanced his compassionate conservativism with the need to please the right?

Steve Duprey: Right now, McCain is surging and Steve Forbes seems to be a little behind. But we'll know tomorrow night. If John McCain wins New Hampshire, he then has the opportunity to build on that. In my opinion, unless Steve Forbes can come in a close third or second, his campaign is probably in trouble.

I think Gov. Bush has done an outstanding job of reminding all of us that we need to have compassionate conservatism and has held his ground firmly on those who might want to move either left or right.

Washington, D.C.: Can you explain the "compassionate conservatism" platform Bush is using? I think that is an oxymoron. Also, what are George and Barbara Bush doing in New Hampshire? It seems like ... a last, desperate attempt to gain more confidence from the voters.

Steve Duprey: When Gov. Bush talks about compassionate conservatists, he is expressing his view that it's not good enough to be for less government, lower taxes or without trying to solve important national problems. He's reminding conservatives that the goal of government is to be effective, efficient and caring, not just to be about government. When he talks about leaving no child behind and saying there are no second-rate children and no second-rate dreams, he is reminding us that we do need government to do certain things. The recent Welfare Reform Law is a good example of compassionate conservatism. It has helped people move from a lifetime of dependancy to dignity, self-esteem, and jobs in the real world. My own view is that his theme about compassionate conservatism is a brilliant articulation of where the mood of the country is right now.

On the second question, bringing Barbara Bush and President Bush to New Hampshire was a strong campaign move. It built excitement and momentum. Seeing President Bush reminds a lot of Republicans what a mistake we made to ever let Bill Clinton win the presidency.

Bethesda, Md.: When do you think Alan Keyes and Gary Bauer will drop out of the race? They must be strapped for cash by now. Am I right?

Steve Duprey: Yes, they are low on cash. The beauty of New Hampshire is that you can run an effective campaign for a half million dollars. Both Gary and Alan have run excellent campaigns. My sense is that if Gary finishes below six or seven percent, it will be almost impossible to continue. Alan Keyes surprised a lot of people in Iowa. I think he has an outside chance of coming in third in New Hampshire tomorrow. If he finishes third or a very close fourth, I expect he will be able to continue for another round of primaries.

Dover, Del.: I've read about Gov. Bush's most recent miscue -- confusing the words, "persevere" and "preserve" in remarks he made at a school assembly last week. Do you think his reputation as an intellectual lightweight is going to hurt him in New Hampshire and beyond?

Steve Duprey: No. I have come to know Gov. Bush very well and even though I remain strictly neutral, he is obviously a bright and able man. In the last weeks of the campaign, all the candidates are so tired, they make miscues. Sen. McCain thanked the people of Massachusetts in a town meeting in New Hampshire, Al Gore thanked the people for coming together in "Manchester" while in another town, and I am sure the other candidates have made slips as well. The people of New Hampshire are a lot more forgiving than the national media over these little mistakes that come from exhaustion.

Rockville, Md.: Could you please explain how capital punishment fits into the framework of "compassionate conservatism?"

Steve Duprey: Gov. Bush and all the Republicans running believe there is a point when crimes are so heinous that the appropriate punishment is death. That simple.

Orono, Maine: It may be true that New Hampshire gives fringe candidates a shot at capturing the nomination. But why New Hampshire? Why not Delaware or New Jersey or any other state? Could you please fill us in on what benefits - economic or otherwise - the state gains from being number one?

Steve Duprey: There is no question other small states might be able to do the job as well as New Hampshire. They would need to be small ... not only geographically small, but population-wise as well. For example, if New Jersey went first with its many major media markets, the cost of advertising would be eight or ten times the cost of New Hampshire. The other reason is that after having done it for almost fifty years, it has become an inborn duty of citizenship. No other state in the country has ever approached voter participation numbers like New Hampshire does.

That happens because people here believe it is their duty to meet and know the candidates and then vote. In addition, the party in New Hampshire treats every candidate equally. Very few other states do that except Iowa, the first caucus state, and a few others. After the race is over, the people who lose feel very strongly that New Hampshire should remain first because of that fair treatment. It is hard to be absolutely neutral when there are front-runners. But, we do it well and democracy benefits.

Bethesda, Md.: How was it a mistake to let Bill Clinton win the presidency? The economy is stronger than Bush could ever have dreamed it being. There's a budget surplus. And parents can actually get time off from work to tend to their sick kids without worrying about being fired - George Bush twice vetoed the Family Medical Leave Act. I speak for a lot of working families when I say...good riddance.

Steve Duprey: Those who remember history well remember that President Clinton was dragged kicking and screaming to a balanced budget. Remember President Clinton saying we couldn't possibly balance the budget before 2010. It was a GOP Congress and a Democratic president being willing to leave his own party behind that balanced the budget and created this economy. In addition, hard though it may have been, the spending caps put in the Bush tax package were a key reason the economy recovered. It was also a Republican Congress again joined by a Democrat president willing to leave his own party that reformed welfare and ultimately a GOP Congress that passed the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Nashua, N.H.: Does it really matter which of the GOP candidates gets the nod? Can any of them really beat Al Gore in November?

Steve Duprey: Absolutely. People are tired of President Clinton and particularly the way he debased the presidency. The very real downside of being vice president is that you inherit the negative of the president. Remember Al Gore, after the impeachment vote, said Bill Clinton would be remembered as one of the nation's greatest presidents. I think the people of this country want a chance to repudiate the way Clinton conducted himself. They will do that by voting against Al Gore -- if he is the nominee.

Orono, Maine: I know many people have annoited George W. Bush as the GOP's golden child. But I think a lot of those are missing a critical element of McCain's story -- the man has suffered. Sure, he's enjoyed a long career as a policy maker. But his POW experience in Vietnam tells me that the man understands pain and loss. I think the message the GOP wants to sell to voters in November is, "We have a candidate who has been there." Clinton won by telling use that he "felt our pain," and he didn't really mean it. Do you agree with that, from this perspective. And do you think McCain would have the better chance of defeating Gore?

Steve Duprey: Sen. McCain would be a very strong candidate against Al Gore and all the polls show that. His campaign is based on character and the fact that his has been tested in ways that most of us cannot even imagine. It is one of the reasons that he is doing so well in New Hampshire. The amazing thing I have seen in this primary is how well Sen. McCain gets along with Gov. Bush, Steve Forbes and the other candidates. They are a great group.

Free Media: That was our last question for New Hampshire State GOP Chairman Steve Duprey. Thank for joining us, Mr. Duprey.

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