Prominent Democratic Operative Joe Grandmaison Dies at 79

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — J. Joseph “Joe” Grandmaison, a larger-than-life Democratic operative who ran quite a few campaigns and served as an appointee underneath three presidents, has died. He was 79.

Grandmaison died from the results of Parkinson’s illness Saturday at Wentworth Senior Residing, his brother mentioned.

“With the passing of Joe Grandmaison, New Hampshire has misplaced a political legend,” mentioned U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

Grandmaison led quite a lot of campaigns and was a casual adviser on others. He was credited with counseling Democrat Invoice Clinton to declare victory early within the night within the New Hampshire major. Clinton declared himself the “comeback child” by taking second place, and went on to the primary of two phrases within the White Home.

He grew up on working class neighborhood generally known as Crown Hill in Nashua, which formed him.

“He by no means stopped believing that not all people in life will get dealt a good hand, and that authorities must be there so as to take care of the adversity or unfairness that most individuals expertise at a while,” mentioned his brother, Phil Grandmaison. “That is why he was a Democrat.”

Grandmaison received his political begin engaged on the marketing campaign of Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern in 1972, then managed Michael Dukakis’ profitable marketing campaign for Massachusetts governor two years later. That was simply the beginning of many campaigns together with his fingerprints on them.

Phil Grandmaison described his brother as a political fighter who made quick mates, even throughout celebration traces.

“He was simple to satisfy. You have been apt to know him for a lifetime, as soon as you bought to know one another. However in politics, he was a tough competitor,” he mentioned.

Later, Grandmaison served as President Jimmy Carter’s co-chair of the New England Regional Fee and Clinton’s director of the U.S. Commerce and Improvement Company. He twice served on the board of the Export-Import Financial institution underneath Republican President George W. Bush

“Joe was one among a sort,” mentioned George Bruno, who preceded Grandmaison as state celebration chair. “He was as snug campaigning the streets of Nashua or Berlin as he was with the president within the White Home.”

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