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New Hampshire
ANALYSIS: Biden's 'Senior Center' Campaign Shuffles Into New Hampshire – NH Journal
“I’m waiting for someone to shout ‘Bingo!’”
That’s how one journalist covering President Joe Biden’s visit to the Westwood Park YMCA in Nashua described the scene as a quiet crowd awaited an appearance by the leader of the free world.
It’s not a fair comment, of course.
Bingo is actually fun.
Fun was not in evidence in the hushed, half-filled hall of the Westwood Park Y on Tuesday. The crowd was subdued, almost funereal. Elevator music seeped softly out of the sound system, and people spoke in low tones around the room.
In the back of the room, where cynical reporters, tech crew, and political hacks hang out, someone snarked, “Maybe Biden died?”
“How could you tell,” came the reply.
Even more odd: The venue wasn’t full. An event starring the president of the United States, and the hand-picked attendees were scattered around the room like estranged cousins at a family reunion.
“Are they still practicing social distancing?” quipped state Rep. Keith Ammon (R-New Boston) on X.
When the program started and Biden shuffled toward the lectern, there was none of the excitement associated with a political candidate rousing his supporters. Biden spoke for just 12 minutes. He said nothing memorable or inspiring. The crowd clapped politely (though infrequently) and then it was over.
The point isn’t that Biden failed to meet the Trump standard for a public appearance, though he certainly did. There were more people lined up along the road outside the Y, waving Trump flags and chanting “Let’s Go, Brandon!” than listening to Biden speak.
Biden’s never going to compete with Trump as a political showman. When it comes to stage presence, Biden only has two speeds: Angry, and addled.
But he’s still the president. And when you’re the president of the United States, and you walk into a room, it’s supposed to matter.
Trump, Obama, Bush — did they ever give a speech on the stump to a crowd that looked like it was waiting to be pitched a time share in Florida?
Nothing about Biden’s New Hampshire visit made sense.
When the White House announced he was coming, the reaction in Granite State political circles was puzzlement. Why is Biden, who rarely treks outside the D.C.-Philly-Delaware triangle, schlepping up to the Granite State, with just four Electoral College votes and a nearly-perfect track record of backing Democrats for president?
When the word came that he was giving a speech celebrating the PACT Act — a law passed in 2022 making it easier for veterans exposed to toxic compounds to get VA health care — again people were puzzled. Sure, supporting veterans is great, but who is anti-veteran? How is this a hot political topic? What’s the point of differentiation with Trump?
Then came the NHJournal poll showing Biden tied with Trump in the state, and the motive for Biden’s visit appeared to become more clear. His team must be seeing similar polls and they’re coming up to lock this state down.
But wait — if Biden really is in danger of losing New Hampshire in November, how did his snoozefest of visit to Nashua help?
After Biden’s speech, he worked the small crowd, taking photos and donning his iconic aviator sunglasses. There was none of the celebrity buzz that big-time politicians usually inspire. Democratic operatives gossiped in corners. Karine Jean-Pierre was texting distractedly on her iPhone. Asked about the new poll showing Biden in trouble in New Hampshire, she said she couldn’t address something so overtly political and suggested Rep. Annie Kuster, who was standing nearby.
Kuster was a “no comment,” then quickly fled.
And so it went. No rallying cry from Biden urging patriots to embrace his cause. No “The only poll that matters is on Election Day!” No “New Hampshire is Biden Country.” Just political hacks dodging questions and looking for the nearest door.
“That was really bad, wasn’t it?” one confused reporter asked when it was all over. “What was the point?”
Many New Hampshire political professionals find it nearly impossible to believe that a Democrat could lose New Hampshire to Donald Trump.
But after half an hour with Biden and his fans in Nashua, and a Trump victory didn’t just seem possible. It seemed all but inevitable.
Crime
Elijah Allman’s arrest on March 1 was his second in New Hampshire in a matter of days.
A court hearing for Cher’s son Wednesday over allegations he broke into a New Hampshire home this month has been canceled.
Elijah Allman’s arrest on March 1 was his second in New Hampshire in a matter of days. Allman, the 49-year-old son of the iconic singer and actress, was also detained Feb. 27, accused of acting belligerently at a prestigious prep school in Concord.
It is unclear if Allman, of Malibu, California, has any connection to the home in Windham, New Hampshire. He is being held in the Rockingham County Department of Corrections, Superintendent Jonathan Banville said.
The hearing Wednesday was continued until an undetermined date after Allman got an attorney Wednesday morning. The attorney, Sarah Landres, did not respond to a request for comment.
Allman, whose father was the late singer Gregg Allman, is charged with two counts of criminal mischief, one count of burglary and a count of breach of bail for breaking into the home on March 1. Police said in a report that Allman did not have permission to be at the home and forcibly entered it.
Officials at St. Paul’s School said Allman last month identified himself as the parent of a prospective student and slipped into the dining hall as some students were leaving the building. Police responded to reports that he was disturbing people in the building.
He was charged with four misdemeanors in the school incident: two counts of simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening. Allman was also charged with a violation of disorderly conduct, which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime. He was released on bail.
Allman did not respond to an email requesting comment, and a phone number for him was not working.
In December 2023, Cher filed a petition to become a temporary conservator overseeing her son’s money, saying Allman’s struggles with his mental health and addiction have left him unable to manage his assets and potentially put his life in danger.
The petition says the superstar performer’s son is entitled to regular payments from a trust fund. But “given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues,” she is “concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk,” the petition says.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica Uzcategui denied the request, saying she was not convinced that a conservatorship was urgently needed. Allman was in the courtroom with his attorneys, who acknowledged his previous struggles but argued that he was in a good place, was attending meetings, getting treatment and reconciling with his estranged wife.
The son of Cher is scheduled to be in court Wednesday for a hearing over allegations he broke into a New Hampshire home earlier this month.
It was the second arrest in a matter of days for Elijah Allman, 49, of Malibu, California, who was detained Feb. 27 after allegedly acting belligerently at a prestigious prep school in New Hampshire. It was unclear if Allman had any connection to either St. Paul’s School or the home in Windham, New Hampshire.
Allman remains in the Rockingham County Department of Corrections in what is called preventive detention, Superintendent Jonathan Banville said.
Allman, whose father was the late singer Gregg Allman, faces two counts of criminal mischief, one count of burglary and a count of breach of bail for breaking into the home on March 1. Police said in a report that Allman did not have permission to be at the home and forcibly entered it .
In the incident at the prep school, Allman was charged with four misdemeanors: two counts of simple assault, criminal trespass and criminal threatening. Allman was also charged with a violation of disorderly conduct, which is illegal in the state but not considered a crime.
At about 7 p.m. that day, Concord police responded to reports that Allman was disturbing people in the dining hall of St. Paul’s School. After charging Allman, police said he was released on bail as his case works through the court system.
Allman did not respond to an email requesting comment, and a phone number for him was not working. It was unclear from the court records if Allman has an attorney.
In December 2023, Cher filed a petition to become a temporary conservator overseeing her son’s money, saying Allman struggles with mental health issues and addiction have left him unable to manage his assets and potentially put his life in danger.
The petition from the singer and actress said Elijah Allman is entitled to regular payments from a trust fund. But “given his ongoing mental health and substance abuse issues,” she is “concerned that any funds distributed to Elijah will be immediately spent on drugs, leaving Elijah with no assets to provide for himself and putting Elijah’s life at risk,” the petition says.
A few weeks later, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Jessica Uzcategui denied the request, saying she was not convinced that a conservatorship was urgently needed. Allman was in the courtroom with his his attorneys, who acknowledged his previous struggles but argued that he is in a good place now, attending meetings, getting treatment and reconciling with his previously estranged wife.
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