So the candidates for President have all been in New Hampshire, again, to debate the issues, press the flesh, take out voters' garbage, pick up the kids from school -- whatever it takes to corral a vote.
Vermont, when it comes to presidential primaries, remains a potted plant. Candidates visit us when Lebanon, N.H., runs out of conference rooms and there's meeting space available in White River Junction. Nevertheless, Vermont politicians have begun to choose up sides, I learned by making some calls recently.
The top officeholders in both parties -- Republican Gov. Jim Douglas, Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch -- are still cautiously on the sidelines. But Sen. John McCain corralled endorsements last month from 27 GOP state legislators, including House Minority Leader Steve Adams.
That puts the legislators in a different place than their town and county chairpeople. The GOP took a straw poll at a May 12 meeting of grassroots volunteers, "just for fun," according to state Chairman Rob Roper. The winner? Former Sen. Fred Thompson with 27 percent of the 80 votes cast -- and Thompson isn't even in the race yet. Mitt Romney finished second with 24 percent of the vote, followed by Rudy Giuliani with 16 percent. McCain was fourth, with 15 percent.
On the Democratic side, State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding has signed on with Sen. Barack Obama. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin says he's "Obama all the way." House Speaker Gaye Symington is "leaning Obama," while former Gov. Madeleine Kunin says she's leaning toward Hillary Clinton. The Democrats all were officially excited about the party's slate and said they'd be happy to support whichever of the top three candidates wins the convention.
For their support to matter in the 2008 primaries, the pols will probably have to stuff envelopes at hqs in New Hampshire. By the time Vermont's March 4 primary rolls around, both parties will have chosen 60 percent of their convention delegates and the races may be over.
-- Candace Page
