Fran Wendelboe

The Republican presidential candidates squared off last night in New Hampshire. It wasn’t the first debate – South Carolina beat the state to the punch. But it was the first one with former Massachusetts governor and front-runner Mitt Romney on stage, and a litmus test for Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The Presidential political wheels have been turning much more slowly here in New Hampshire than past cycles. This is good news for candidates who have been slow to engage and better news for candidates who are not well funded. While there may be many reasons for the sluggish start, one very possibly is that candidates are trying to assess what voters are looking for.

The 2010 November election showed New Hampshire turning from Blue (most Republicans tried to argue purple)  to being staunchly Red with only one token Democrat left standing….Governor John Lynch. The swing to the right was historic with super majorities elected in both chambers.

One would think that super conservatives would have a lock in New Hampshire for the Presidential primary, but wait; one would have to read the tea leaves. Many of the newly elected members came out of the tea party movement voted in by energized tea party activists and disenfranchised former Republicans.