New Hampshire

New Hampshire hasn’t backed a Republican for president since 2000. Biden’s debate boosted GOP confidence that will change. – The Boston Globe

Published

7 months ago

July 7, 2024

New Hampshire hasn’t backed a Republican for president since 2000. Biden’s debate boosted GOP confidence that will change. – The Boston Globe

“If it wasn’t already, it sure came into play last Thursday,” said Jon McHenry, a national GOP pollster who grew up in New Hampshire, referring to the first general-election debate between Biden and Trump.

Republican “reach states,” including New Hampshire, “became more competitive after that performance,” McHenry said. A year ago, the state “absolutely” looked less competitive for Republicans, he said, “whereas now, you go, ‘Hey, that’s on the table.’”

The fresh attention on New Hampshire comes as both campaigns seek to expand the map of key battleground states beyond the six that proved decisive in 2020. Immediately after last week’s debate, for example, Biden campaigned in North Carolina, while Trump traveled to Virginia, each candidate wooing a state he lost four years ago.

New Hampshire has long been a purple state; it currently has an-all Democratic congressional delegation, a Republican governor, and an almost even party split in its state House of Representatives. But not since George W. Bush in 2000 has the state backed a Republican for president — a streak that gives Democrats hope, even as Biden shows increasing signs of weakness.

“We are confident Granite Staters will come together this November to reelect President Biden and reject Donald Trump, just as we did in 2016 and 2020,” said Marisa Nahem, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign in New Hampshire.

Biden carried New Hampshire by seven percentage points in 2020, but his campaign still considers it a battleground state this time around. In 2016, when Hillary Clinton carried New Hampshire, the margin was far closer; she bested Trump by less than one percentage point.

Donald Trump gestured to the crowd during a campaign rally in Manchester, N.H., in January.DOUG MILLS/NYT

This year’s election could more closely resemble 2016 than 2020, analysts said. And while New Hampshire is just one small state, its competitiveness forewarns of far larger consequences for Democrats.

“If New Hampshire is in play, then Donald Trump is going to win” the general election, predicted Fergus Cullen, a former New Hampshire GOP chair who opposes Trump. If Trump manages to even compete in New Hampshire, he reasoned, the former president will carry the bigger swing states with more electoral votes.

“All that’s happened in the last six months is Trump’s path has expanded and Biden’s path to winning has become more and more narrow, much more threading the needle,” Cullen added. “He’s clearly been on defense in states that should be solidly in the Democratic column. The trends are all moving in one direction.”

As national Democrats openly discuss the possibility of replacing the president on the ticket this fall, some Biden backers in New Hampshire have been quick to tamp down on such speculation. And supporters dismiss the recent poll showing Trump ahead of Biden, noting that the survey has been proven wrong before and months of campaigning remain before Election Day.

Sure, New Hampshire looks competitive — but that’s nothing new this year, said Kathy Sullivan, the former state Democratic chair who led this year’s write-in effort for Biden in the primary. Biden snubbed New Hampshire by skipping its Jan. 23 primary this year, as national Democrats sought to shift the early contests to states with more diverse populations. But he decisively won the primary as a write-in candidate despite not formally campaigning in the state himself.

Biden has made two trips to New Hampshire since he skipped the primary, attempting to reset his relationship with the state. His campaign and local Democrats have 14 coordinated campaign offices.

Sullivan said Republicans are “getting ahead of themselves” in arguing that Biden’s debate performance will sink him in the state. Sullivan said based on conversations she’s had with canvassers promoting Biden door to door with New Hampshire voters, she is not convinced that the race has tightened since the debate.

“I feel nervous about every election,” Sullivan said. “Fingers crossed, say a Hail Mary, or whatever prayer you might say, or meditate. It’s just going to be like every other election.”

Despite Republican bluster about recapturing the state in a presidential election, Trump has not campaigned in New Hampshire since he won its first-in-the-nation primary in January. A surrogate, his onetime GOP primary rival North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, spoke at a fund-raising dinner in Keene in April.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley told reporters in Arizona this week that as the Trump campaign worked to expand the map of battleground states, “we’ve now started to engage in Minnesota and in Virginia and in New Hampshire.”

But the RNC would not say what that effort entails. Trump campaign senior advisor and RNC chief of staff Chris LaCivita said in a statement that he did not feel “obligated … to discuss the specifics of our strategy, timing and tactics with members of the news media.” But New Hampshire GOP Chairman Chris Ager told the Globe that last month, even before the June 27 debate, the Trump campaign made a “substantial” contribution to the state party to help Republicans on the ground boost the former president’s campaign.

“It’s an indicator when the campaign starts giving money directly to the state party,” Ager said. “It’s a good sign for us that yes, we are a battleground state.”

Ager declined to say how much the Trump campaign had provided, but called it a “significant investment” — the first large chunk of money the party has received directly, and he is expecting more to come.

Before the debate, Ager said he knew New Hampshire would be close, but he wasn’t sure Trump could win it. Now, he said, he is “convinced.”

“I’m usually pretty cautious,” Ager said, “and now I’m like, ‘Oh boy.’”

Emma Platoff can be reached at emma.platoff@globe.com. Follow her @emmaplatoff.

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New Hampshire

Who is this man? Police say child sex assault suspect was living under false identity

Published

8 hours ago

January 28, 2025

Press Room

Who is this man? Police say child sex assault suspect was living under false identity

Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, are seeking the public’s help in determining the identity of a man charged with sexually assaulting a child in the city last year.

Manchester police say the man, who had claimed to be 60-year-old Angel Rivera Laureano, was brought to the attention of their Juvenile Unit in January of 2024 after someone alleged that he had sexually abused a child under the age of 13. He was ultimately arrested and charged with one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault.

During the investigation, police said they learned that the suspect might not be who he said he was. As a result of their investigation, police were able to determine that the man had been living under a false identity for years, and under that name was convicted of numerous crimes in New Hampshire dating back over a decade.

The real Angel Rivera Laureano was positively identified and located living in Puerto Rico, police said.

The suspect in the sexual assault case, who police are now referring to as “John Doe,” now faces an additional charge of identity fraud. At the time of his arrest he was already being held at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections, and he remains there.

Police said the man’s identity is still unknown, and are asking anyone with information about him to call Detective Guy Kozowyk at 603-792-5560 or email him at gkozowyk@manchesternh.gov.

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New Hampshire

Ondris scores 2 in Johnstown Tomahawks’ win over New Hampshire Mountain Kings – The Rink Live

Published

19 hours ago

January 27, 2025

Press Room

The Johnstown Tomahawks bested the New Hampshire Mountain Kings 7-3 on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2025 at 1st Summit Arena.

The hosting team took the lead early in the first period, with a goal from

Caden Olenczak

. Markas Samenas assisted.

The Tomahawks’

Nick White

made it 2-0 in the first period, assisted by

Hank Reed

and

Nick Jarmain

The second period ended with a 4-1 lead for the Tomahawks.

The Mountain Kings narrowed the gap to 4-2, only 25 seconds into the third when

Alex Gelhar

found the back of the net, assisted by Kim Hilmersson.

The Mountain Kings’ Kim Hilmersson narrowed the gap again, assisted by

Oli Genest

and

Rogiero Cacciarelli

at 1:12 into the third period.

Cullen Emery

increased the lead to 5-3 with a goal four minutes later, assisted by

Sam Blanton

Adam Ondris

also increased the lead to 6-3 with a goal one minute later, assisted by

Kirby Perler

and Charlie Zetterkvist.

The Tomahawks increased the lead to 7-3 with 29 seconds remaining of the third period after a goal from Charlie Zetterkvist, assisted by Adam Ondris and

Dylan Shane

Coming up:

Both teams will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 when the Tomahawks face New Jersey at 6:30 p.m. CST at 1st Summit Arena and the Mountain Kings play the Philadelphia Rebels at 6:30 p.m. CST at Hollydell Ice Arena.

New Hampshire

3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast

Published

1 day ago

January 27, 2025

Press Room

3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck 10 miles off the coast of York, Maine on Monday.

The earthquake was recorded at 10:22 a.m. on Monday and was about 10 kilometers southeast of York Harbor, according to USGS. It shook at a depth of 13.2 km. There is no tsunami danger from this earthquake.

The earthquake was originally reported as a 4.1 magnitude quake by USGS and then downgraded.

People across New Hampshire reported feeling the earthquake.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) said that New Hampshire 911 did not receive any calls about injury or damage as of 10:45 a.m. They encouraged residents to be prepared for all types of hazards, including earthquakes.

“Include all hazards when you are creating a family emergency plan,” said HSEM Director Robert Buxton. “You should also hold regular drills to practice what to do during an earthquake. It’s the best way to keep you and your family safe.”

Local schools, fire departments react

Staff at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire pulled the fire alarm after shaking began and had the entire school briefly evacuate, according to superintendent of schools Zach McLaughlin. No other school in Portsmouth evacuated during the course of the earthquake.

“The reality is, as New Englanders, many of whom have lived here our whole lives, this might be everybody’s first earthquake experience,” McLaughlin said Monday morning. “I think folks did the right thing but once it was clear that we were in good condition, folks returned to the building.”

City school department officials have not found any property damage in any of the school buildings thus far in the wake of the quake, McLaughlin added.

Portsmouth Fire Department Chief Bill McQuillen reported there had been no calls regarding personal injuries or property damage as of approximately 11 a.m. Monday.

The city sent out alerts to residents and automated messages urging any personal injuries or structural damages to be reported to authorities.

“We wanted to try and get out the word as quickly as possible and make sure the city sent out a message as soon as possible,” McQuillen said.

Over the Piscataqua River, calls were made to Kittery, Maine’s fire department but no injuries were reported and no property damage had been found.

“Our dispatch center took a lot of calls from concerned citizens reporting that they think something happened at their property,” Kittery fire Chief Craig Alfis stated. “So far everything has stabilized out and our dispatchers are back to normal operation. We haven’t been out on a call in 15 minutes so fingers crossed we’re past that.”

No calls had been made expressing concern about the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, per Alfis.

“Reports are coming in from various parts of town about noticeable shaking. We are aware of the earthquake and are actively assessing impacts. Please only contact public safety dispatch if you have an emergency,” the town of Kittery advised in an email.

Where was the NH earthquake? How far did it reach?

According to the USGS, Monday morning’s earthquake originated off the southeast coast of York Harbor, Maine.

York Harbor is about 10 miles north of the New Hampshire border.

Light shaking from the earthquake was felt as far south as Cape Cod, according to the USGS, though some people in Rhode Island also reported feeling the earthquake.

How strong was the NH earthquake?

Monday’s earthquake is being measured at 3.8 on the magnitude scale, according to the USGS.

According to Michigan Tech, earthquake magnitudes between 2.5-5.4 are often felt but typically only cause minor damage. Earthquake magnitudes measured at 7.0 and higher are considered major earthquakes.

How common are earthquakes in NH?

New Hampshire has a moderate earthquake risk based on its position in the North American plate: according to a 2019 fact sheet from the NH Department of Environmental Services, there have been 65 earthquakes above magnitude 2.1 since 1638.

New Hampshire’s earthquake risk rating is based on frequency rather than intensity.

What was the biggest earthquake in NH history?

While earthquakes in New Hampshire tend to be smaller, there have been similar magnitude earthquakes in the past, such as a 4.0 magnitude quake in Southern Maine in 2012 and another near Laconia in 1982.

The strongest earthquakes with an epicenter in New Hampshire in state history happened four days apart in December of 1940. Each had a magnitude of 5.8.

This story will be updated.

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