On January 2nd, The Nashua Telegraph, David Lawrence’s essay is titled, "Same Old Game of Early Politicking" he says: "For, unfortunately, the United States hasn't modified its method of choosing a party nominee. It is still a most undemocratic process. A few states have primaries, but even these do not always bind the delegates to the conventions to vote for the individual who has won the primary election except on a few of the initial roll calls. The nominees, therefore, are selected by a small group of political leaders or bosses or managers of state delegations who listen carefully to the advice of some of the persons who have made substantial contributions of money.
But what does public opinion have to do with it all? Plenty-for the same persons who are politically influential behind the scenes are trying to figure out just which candidate either has popular favor already or is likely to obtain it once the election campaign begins."
It’s an article that a certain old campaigner in Concord has cut out and kept by her telephone.
A veteran of many campaigns, Mrs. Stoutmiller shifted gears on January 2nd, when it was announced that Senator Eugene McCarthy would enter the New Hampshire primary. Previously, the only New England contest he was going to enter was in Massachusetts.
The change caused Janine and Becca to do some last minute scrambling to get their bus tickets changed from Boston to Concord. As a result, they don’t have a place to stay once they reach the Granite State. Janine is more than a little worried about that.
Mrs. Stoutmiller has been keeping track of the world’s fifth heart transplant patient. He appeared to make it through the operation, but then suddenly took a downturn. On 1-9, the Portsmouth Herald reported that he was in critical condition with internal bleeding. A day later, he died. According to reports, the heart he received was too small and his lungs were in poor condition. Mrs. Stoutmiller took it especially hard. To distract herself, she is hard at work at preparing a campaign office in Concord for Senator McCarthy.
Janine and Becca are also unprepared for the cold snap that New Hampshirites have suffered over the past few weeks. Schools have been closed because of the weather. The Nashua Telegraph reported that gas lines froze, disabling cars. (1-9-68) At its lowest, the temperature was 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit.
New Hampshire Gov. King got caught in a chain collision crash on Route 93. A Concord High School teacher was also killed in an unrelated car accident. (Portsmouth Herald 1-8-68)
In all, it probably wasn’t a good idea for Becca to bring her platform boots.
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