While we were myopically focused on the Legislature's final days, I didn't even notice that Barre native Jim Barnett had been elevated to become John McCain's campaign manager in New Hampshire.

Barnett, of course, was Vermont Republican Party chairman until the end of last year, when he went to work on McCain's New England staff. It was a perfect fit for a man who lives and breathes politics. His promotion is a sign that Barnett is doing well. The firing of his predecessor, Jim Martin, is not a good sign for McCain's campaign, however.

Barnett will have some help from Michael Dennehy, who stepped down as McCain's national political director last week to move back home to New Hampshire. He is expected to continue with the campaign as a consultant.

It probably means Barnett will have less time to pop back home to Vermont to lobby Republicans here for their support of McCain, as he has done a couple times this year.

For those of you who missed it, here's the AP story on the shake-up:

McCain fires New Hampshire director, shuffles staff

By Philip Elliott
Associated Press Writer
May 11, 2007
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. --Sen. John McCain has made
another change in his struggling campaign, dismissing his New Hampshire campaign
manager on Friday.
Jim Martin had run the Arizona Republican's
campaign in the state and was part of McCain's 2000 victory in the state. But
the campaign decided to replace him with Jim Barnett, who had been a top
political operative.
McCain's New Hampshire Communications
Director Jill Hazelbaker said the departure came Friday.
"While
we appreciate his hard work, Jim Barnett will assume the day-to-day
responsibilities going forward," she said. "Barnett is a talented political
professional with extensive campaign experience, and he will work closely with
Mike Dennehy to build out our ground operation to ensure that we win the
primary."
Barnett had served as the chairman of the Vermont
Republican Party and joined the McCain campaign as the regional political
director.
"We need someone who knows what it takes on every
level of a campaign and understands a get-out-the-vote process. Jim Barnett is
that person," said Dennehy, a McCain consultant who stepped down earlier this
week as national political director and returned to help New Hampshire's office.
"I'm going to work very closely with Jim on the historical knowledge of the
state."
The campaign says the move underscores the importance of
the state to McCain, who won here over party favorite and then-Texas Gov. George
W. Bush in 2000.
The shake-up comes in the wake of Dennehy's resignation to
relocate his family to New Hampshire. His young son has Down's Syndrome and the
family thought the schools in Concord would be a better fit.

Earlier this year, McCain restructured his campaign fundraising organization
after a lackluster first quarter. The campaign says the moves reflect the fluid
nature of all campaigns.

- Terri Hallenbeck