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November 14, 2007 11:32 pm
New Hampshire senator runs for vice president
Why does New Hampshire even have a vice presidential choice on the primary ballot?
By Gordon Fraser
CNHI News Service
RAYMOND, N.H. — A state senator is sure he'll win the Republican race for vice president in New Hampshire, but he doesn't expect to actually be vice president.
Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, is the only Republican on the New Hampshire ballot for vice president of the United States. That's why he expects to win.
But vice president is a strange office to run for because after the winner is announced, "nothing happens."
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We just announce who won and that's that," said Karen Ladd, New Hampshire's assistant secretary of state.
The actual vice presidential candidate is chosen by each political party's nominee for president, not by voters on primary ballots.
Barnes realizes that, and said he's only running to bring attention to issues that are important to him.
"I have no illusions of grandeur," the 76-year-old Barnes said. "I am not going to be vice president of the United States."
But that begs the question, why does New Hampshire even have a vice presidential choice on the primary ballot?
"It goes back to the 1949 legislation that added the separate column for candidates," said Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
That year, the state Legislature changed the primary ballot. Before, people voted for convention delegates who had announced their allegiance to a particular presidential candidate. After, voters cast their lot in with the presidential and vice presidential candidates directly.
Most years, the vice presidential vote is ignored, Gardner said. But a few times, it has been meaningful.
In the 1956 election, rumors had been circulating that President Dwight Eisenhower would drop his vice president, Richard Nixon, from the ticket, according to Gardner. Nixon ran on the vice presidential ballot in New Hampshire and got overwhelming support from local Republicans, he said.
"Eisenhower made some mention of that," Gardner said. "Obviously, (Nixon) was liked and he was going to keep him."
Barnes, a supporter of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., expects to win here like Nixon did, but he doesn't expect the same result. His goal, he said, is to draw attention to two issues.
First, he wants the next president to help develop a stronger, more effective United Nations.
Barnes received a Purple Heart during his service in the Korean War in 1950 and 1951. He sees that war as a strong example of international cooperation because it was waged by a coalition of nations with a United Nations mandate.
Now, he said, the United Nations should help with the Iraq war and the larger war against international terrorism.
"I fought in the Korean War. The U.N. was there," Barnes said. "Now we've got a war on terror and where the heck are these people?"
The Raymond senator, who is in his 18th year as a New Hampshire lawmaker, also hopes the eventual presidential nominee will support what he describes as an aid package to America.
"We have kids in this country of ours going to school hungry, and this isn't a Third World country," Barnes said.
Frustrated by the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Barnes proposes a $100 billion aid package divided evenly among the 50 states.
And while Barnes said he would certainly accept if McCain offered him the vice presidential spot, he said he wouldn't be vice president to just anyone.
"If Hillary calls me up and asks me to be her vice president, I'll have to say, 'No way,'" Barnes said with a laugh.
Filing for vice president costs the same as filing for president, $1,000.
Gordon Fraser RAYMOND | A state senator is sure he'll win the Republican race for vice president in New Hampshire, but he doesn't expect to actually be vice president.
Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, is the only Republican on the New Hampshire ballot for vice president of the United States. That's why he expects to win.
But vice president is a strange office to run for because after the winner is announced, "nothing happens."
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We just announce who won and that's that," said Karen Ladd, New Hampshire's assistant secretary of state.
The actual vice presidential candidate is chosen by each political party's nominee for president, not by voters on primary ballots.
Barnes realizes that, and said he's only running to bring attention to issues that are important to him.
"I have no illusions of grandeur," the 76-year-old Barnes said. "I am not going to be vice president of the United States."
But that begs the question, why does New Hampshire even have a vice presidential choice on the primary ballot?
"It goes back to the 1949 legislation that added the separate column for candidates," said Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
That year, the state Legislature changed the primary ballot. Before, people voted for convention delegates who had announced their allegiance to a particular presidential candidate. After, voters cast their lot in with the presidential and vice presidential candidates directly.
Most years, the vice presidential vote is ignored, Gardner said. But a few times, it has been meaningful.
In the 1956 election, rumors had been circulating that President Dwight Eisenhower would drop his vice president, Richard Nixon, from the ticket, according to Gardner. Nixon ran on the vice presidential ballot in New Hampshire and got overwhelming support from local Republicans, he said.
"Eisenhower made some mention of that," Gardner said. "Obviously, (Nixon) was liked and he was going to keep him."
Barnes, a supporter of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., expects to win here like Nixon did, but he doesn't expect the same result. His goal, he said, is to draw attention to two issues.
First, he wants the next president to help develop a stronger, more effective United Nations.
Barnes received a Purple Heart during his service in the Korean War in 1950 and 1951. He sees that war as a strong example of international cooperation because it was waged by a coalition of nations with a United Nations mandate.
Now, he said, the United Nations should help with the Iraq war and the larger war against international terrorism.
"I fought in the Korean War. The U.N. was there," Barnes said. "Now we've got a war on terror and where the heck are these people?"
The Raymond senator, who is in his 18th year as a New Hampshire lawmaker, also hopes the eventual presidential nominee will support what he describes as an aid package to America.
"We have kids in this country of ours going to school hungry, and this isn't a Third World country," Barnes said.
Frustrated by the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Barnes proposes a $100 billion aid package divided evenly among the 50 states.
And while Barnes said he would certainly accept if McCain offered him the vice presidential spot, he said he wouldn't be vice president to just anyone.
"If Hillary calls me up and asks me to be her vice president, I'll have to say, 'No way,'" Barnes said with a laugh.
Barnes represents Allenstown, Brentwood, Chester, Chichester, Danville, Deerfield, Epsom, Fremont, Northwood, Pittsfield, Raymond and Sandown in the state Senate.
William Bryk of New York City and Raymond Stebbins of Weymouth, Mass., are both running as Democrats for vice president. Neither could be reached for comment.
Filing for vice president costs the same as filing for president, $1,000.
RAYMOND | A state senator is sure he'll win the Republican race for vice president in New Hampshire, but he doesn't expect to actually be vice president.
Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, is the only Republican on the New Hampshire ballot for vice president of the United States. That's why he expects to win.
But vice president is a strange office to run for because after the winner is announced, "nothing happens."
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We just announce who won and that's that," said Karen Ladd, New Hampshire's assistant secretary of state.
The actual vice presidential candidate is chosen by each political party's nominee for president, not by voters on primary ballots.
Barnes realizes that, and said he's only running to bring attention to issues that are important to him.
"I have no illusions of grandeur," the 76-year-old Barnes said. "I am not going to be vice president of the United States."
But that begs the question, why does New Hampshire even have a vice presidential choice on the primary ballot?
"It goes back to the 1949 legislation that added the separate column for candidates," said Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
That year, the state Legislature changed the primary ballot. Before, people voted for convention delegates who had announced their allegiance to a particular presidential candidate. After, voters cast their lot in with the presidential and vice presidential candidates directly.
Most years, the vice presidential vote is ignored, Gardner said. But a few times, it has been meaningful.
In the 1956 election, rumors had been circulating that President Dwight Eisenhower would drop his vice president, Richard Nixon, from the ticket, according to Gardner. Nixon ran on the vice presidential ballot in New Hampshire and got overwhelming support from local Republicans, he said.
"Eisenhower made some mention of that," Gardner said. "Obviously, (Nixon) was liked and he was going to keep him."
Barnes, a supporter of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., expects to win here like Nixon did, but he doesn't expect the same result. His goal, he said, is to draw attention to two issues.
First, he wants the next president to help develop a stronger, more effective United Nations.
Barnes received a Purple Heart during his service in the Korean War in 1950 and 1951. He sees that war as a strong example of international cooperation because it was waged by a coalition of nations with a United Nations mandate.
Now, he said, the United Nations should help with the Iraq war and the larger war against international terrorism.
"I fought in the Korean War. The U.N. was there," Barnes said. "Now we've got a war on terror and where the heck are these people?"
The Raymond senator, who is in his 18th year as a New Hampshire lawmaker, also hopes the eventual presidential nominee will support what he describes as an aid package to America.
"We have kids in this country of ours going to school hungry, and this isn't a Third World country," Barnes said.
Frustrated by the recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis and the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Barnes proposes a $100 billion aid package divided evenly among the 50 states.
And while Barnes said he would certainly accept if McCain offered him the vice presidential spot, he said he wouldn't be vice president to just anyone.
"If Hillary calls me up and asks me to be her vice president, I'll have to say, 'No way,'" Barnes said with a laugh.
Barnes represents Allenstown, Brentwood, Chester, Chichester, Danville, Deerfield, Epsom, Fremont, Northwood, Pittsfield, Raymond and Sandown in the state Senate.
William Bryk of New York City and Raymond Stebbins of Weymouth, Mass., are both running as Democrats for vice president. Neither could be reached for comment.
Filing for vice president costs the same as filing for president, $1,000.
Gordon Fraser writes The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass. E-mail him at gfraser@eagletribune.com
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