News analysis - McCain NH campaign announces Nancy Merrill as campaign co-chair in Granite State
On Thursday, the official campaign issued the following press release, titled: “McCain Campaign Names Nancy Merrill as State Co-Chair”. Here is the full text of the press release:
U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that Nancy Merrill will join the Arizona Senator’s leadership team in New Hampshire as a state co-chair.
Merrill currently serves as National Committeewoman for the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. Elected to that post in July 2000, Merrill will offer her resignation to work with the campaign and maintain the impartiality of the Republican National Committee (RNC) position.
“I firmly believe that New Hampshire must help move John McCain to the next level in the nomination process, which is why I am stepping down from the national committee to work on John’s behalf,” said Merrill. “Our state primary is a major influence on the rest of the nation. We must show the states that follow us that John McCain is the only candidate who possesses the experience, courage, and candor we need in the leader of our country.”
Senator John McCain thanked Nancy for her support. “Nancy was a critical part of my success in 2000, stated Senator McCain. “She has a long record of public service to the people of New Hampshire and our party. I am honored to have her support and look forward to her counsel as we continue to build our grassroots organization in the state.”
Merrill was a state vice chair for Senator McCain’s 2000 bid for the Republican nomination. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Valley Regional Hospital, the Board of Directors of the Capital Regional Development Council, and is the business development coordinator for the City of Claremont. Merrill served on the Lebanon City Council as mayor, assistant mayor, and member, and is founder of the Vesta Roy Excellence in Public Service Series.
The Tower’s analysis:
The addition of Merrill to McCain’s organization - already the best in the state on the Republican side - strengthens it further. With Senator McCain struggling mightily in Iowa, New Hampshire is the primary which he absolutely must win. New Hampshire is a state in which he is expected to do well, in light of:
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