Lynch stumps for Sgambati

Gov. John Lynch made a campaign stop downtown yesterday, where touted the candidacy of fellow Democrat Kathy Sgambati, who is challenging Republican Jim Fitzgerald for the state Senate in District 4.

As Lynch began his remarks Pat Clark, a veteran Democratic activist from Tilton, looked toward Sgambati and urged the governor to say "competent, in big, capital letters, competent." Clark's point was not lost as Lynch recalled that when he first ran for governor in 2004 he recruited Sgambati, who had recently resigned as deputy commissioner of N.H. Department of Health and Human Services, to assist his campaign. When he was elected, he again turned to Sgambati, who joined his transition team and contributed to preparing his his first budget. And when Lynch launched his Citizens Health Initiative, aimed at improving access to affordable health care, he chose Sgambati to manage it. "My hope is that come January I'll have the opportunity to work with Kathy again as a state senator," Lynch said.

Lynch's support will have a strong bearing on Sgambati's fortunes. With a commanding lead in the polls and a high approval rating, which by some counts includes three out of four Republican voters, Lynch is positioned to play a major role in the contests for a half dozen senate seats, including District 4, which are considered within the reach of Democrats.

In the midst of a what promises to be a hotly contested election, Lynch cleaved to his theme of bipartisanship. "Kathy will work with me in a bipartisan way," he said. "She will put partisanship to one side and deliver results and not get embroiled in partisan politics."

But first Sgambati must win a partisan election in a traditional Republican stronghold against a popular opponent. By joining Sgambati in visiting with voters at the Soda Shoppe, which was crammed full during the lunch hour, Lynch raised her profile in the largest municipality in the district as well as drew the attention of the media to her campaign.

One envious Republican, remarked "if we had a candidate for governor our senate candidate would be doing the same thing."