Live Blog Of New Hampshire Democratic Party 100 Club Dinner (Live From Milford!)

[Update: we've put up a video containing our commentary on the evening, check it out...]

Tonight, the New Hampshire Democratic Party is having its annual 100 Club Dinner. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson and Dennis Kucinich will be delivering speeches at this event. You can watch it live on C-SPAN or online beginning at 6:30pm.

5:00: We’re inside the building and press and guests are funneling in slowly. There’s a sizable Obama contingent outside that chanted as the staff here unreasonably forced press (and us!) to wait outside seemingly indefinitely, and we saw what looked like a small mountain of Clinton supporters down the road. All 5 remaining Democratic candidates plus Howard Dean are scheduled to make an address tonight.

5:32: The place is really starting to fill up now and people are eating.

5:51: The guests at this event are staring at the people in the press area as though there’s something quite magical going on in here. (press area pictured right)

6:38: And … the program is about to get underway, to the upbeat tunes of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Nothing inspires more than monkeys arbitrarily starting to worship a giant pole simply because it’s there. For the record, all the candidates plus Howard Dean and the NH Dem Representatives (both who have endorsed Obama) and Gov. Lynch (whose wife has endorsed Clinton) are slated to speak.

6:49: They’re running the Space Odyssey video again! And once again comparing their primary to a bunch of monkey worshiping a pole that suddenly appears; worse, this appears to have been done without a lick of irony.

6:54: There’s a lot of implicit comparisons of Obama to JFK, who was the first guest of a 100 Club Dinner; JFK is referred to in opening remarks as “the young senator from Massachusetts.”

7:00: After the pledge of allegiance and national anthem, it’s time for awards.

7:05: Jeanne Shaheen is introduced just before John Lynch and she gets a significantly lower amount of applause than Lynch. Effect of Obama backers not cheering as loudly?

7:06: Lynch speaks briefly, introducing his wife who has endorsed Clinton. Touts New Hampshire as first primary. Thanks Dodd and Biden for their commitment and they are apparently here! They get a solid round of applause. Lynch continues, touting retail politics.

7:11: Former Rep. Richard Swett speaks, touting the large crowd and Jeanne Shaheen’s run for Senate.

7:19: Donors are recognized, with Obama’s campaign getting a massive ovation, and no one else cheering much; the Clinton campaign was listed second, and its people were not ready to cheer, apparently. But the Obama people have made their presence felt, in a volley past the Clinton’s campaign’s bow.

7:24: Edwards is not coming. Apparently he feels this event is too much of a bigwig event. It’s a party fundraiser, though, and it’s hard to see how allowing all the focus to be on Clinton and Obama will help him.

7:26: Howard Dean speaks. After noting his nostalgia, he talks up the big turnout, then quoting Reagan - yes Reagan - in saying it is “morning in America” once again. That should get some people huffy. Talks up 80% of youth going to Democrat caucus in Iowa, and Democratic caucuses being large. Makes a joke about him not going on lists of states, and strikes a pose. Says that the Democrats are mostly the same, there are no significant differences. That has to help Obama, right? Says that Republicans and Bush are the biggest problem. Says Hastert and Lott resigned to avoid being subject to new ethics law for lobbyists. Talks up Republican attack machine and the problems with certain voting boxes, specifically citing my home county, Cuyahoga county in Ohio. Says 3,000 people are here, and that constant involvement is what gets the vote out. Says he wants to go back to person to person contact. That’s … ummm … a bit outdated. I say that as someone who has seen canvassers up close. Says greatness has to be earned and more clichés, such as America being “healed.” Says there are no red states or blue states, just … purple states. (Obama almost had his penultimate line stolen). Says Martin Luther King would be impressed at the makeup of the Democratic candidates. Compares GOP candidates to the 50s, and finally calls for Democrats to elect the future. That speech has to make Obama’s camp smile.

7:40: Another round of applause for Dodd and Biden. Another round of applause for Dick Gephardt. And also a round of applause for Elizabeth Edwards, who is here. I’m baffled as to why John Edwards is not here; he headlined it 3 years ago!

7:45: We’ve reached the “Attack John Sununu” portion of the program. We’ll return when something we care about does.

7:50: Paul Hodes, who has endorsed Obama, speaks. He mentions Obama themes such as unity and change, while attacking Bush with Edwards-esque rhetoric. One forced applause plus a bunch of screaming into the microphone = headache for me. Obama people force some applause at the end.

7:56: State democrats are here and happy to be in the majority.

8:00: Carol Shea-Porter, another Obama endorser, speaks. She talks broadly about Democrats being right for people of all parties. Talks about the value of SCHIP while remaining otherwise neutral.

8:05: More state democrats are here and, shockingly, still happy to be in the majority.

8:08: Dennis Kucinich is here! His theme is that he is “Waiting on the world to change.” He’s still waiting, apparently. His wife escorts him to the podium, apparently to remind everyone that she is good looking. He says he skipped Iowa on purpose because New Hampshire is so awesome. Says no one should have to settle, and that funding the war is the problem, and they can be home in three months. Says he is “totally aligned with the mainstream aspirations of the Democratic Party.” Cites ending the war immediately and canceling the Patriot Act immediately, and that Bush and Cheney should be punished, and that there is no statute of limitations for war crimes. Gets a decent round of applause in a wild flurry; needless to say, none of those applauding will be voting for him. He calls for the “old time religion” of FDR and a new WPA. Talks specifically about the shipbuilding industry, as if its the 1830s and the height of the Clipper ship era. Gets silence when he talks about how he is going to solve things, but gets applause at mentioning that problems exist. He has a tone to him that makes him sound like a robot. Finishes with a call for impeachment against Bush and Cheney, as he whips out a pocket Constitution Byrd-style. Says he and everyone is viable.

8:19: Hillary Clinton is introduced to audio problems with her music. I’m not sure what the introduction music is, but perhaps it is appropriate that there was a glitch in the beginning. She gets a lot of whistles; there’s no cheering, just whistling. Again, not to go all John McClane, but this is not helping my headache. Asks a series of questions if NH is “ready” for a president … which is her new slogan. Says we know the country can do better and be part of the change. Says America needs a POTUS who is a champion; She uses her ’some people want to fight for change, others hope’ line … and gets a significant amount of boos, as she segues into experience. She’s really doubling down on experience. Now she moves on to criticizing Bush, and criticizes Bush for being divisive, and creating a sense of fatalism, and that America has to try. Now she’s adapting a lot of Obama’s themes, but just glossing over them, as she talks about saving the middle class, specifically through health care. Says her plan is politically viable and will cover everyone by bringing business and labor together. Says that “those” who offer “virtual health care” leave people out. This is BLATANTLY misleading, as she says really sick people cannot be left out, giving multiple examples; Obama’s plan leaves uncovered healthy young adults who would simply willingly not enter the plan. No one who is sick or unhealthy would not apply. Krugman for one is attacking this problem from Clinton’s side honestly; Clinton’s stump speech does not. Moreover, people are realizing that. She moves on to energy, and gives a laundry list of things that can be done. She then moves on to Iraq. She talks at length on Iraq, emphasizing how difficult and dangerous the situation is, and that every American, including civilians, need to come home, and that Iraqis who put their lives on the line for Americans need to be helped as well. She moves on to health care for troops. Concludes by saying that there cannot be reliance on false hopes, that there must be a president who is ready on Day 1. (She asks this as a rhetorical question, and an Obama chant breaks out! She quickly tries to recover and speak over it.) She says that she has taken plenty of fire from Republicans and is still standing, which gets her crowd back into it. Talks about finding common ground with Republicans when possible, and that she has stood her ground when she had to. Says she is running for President to give back. Does anyone believe that? No one runs for President for that reason. Says that she will make history, and that wraps her speech up as Bill and Chelsea join her very briefly on stage. Oh, apparently her theme song is the Dixie Chicks “Ready to run.” Interesting that the lyrics such as “You see it feels like I’m starting to care, And I’m gonna be ready this time.” And it includes nothing about winning. …

8:44: People are being told to take their seats before *Richardson speaks. (As the Clinton clan leaves, I am sure.) *Oops. Not Obama

8:45: Richardson is introduced to the U2 song “Where the Streets Have No Name.” Apparently he wants to run and hide and tear down walls that hold him inside. Either that or he is seriously concerned about poison rain. He speaks, introducing his wife first, for one of the only times this campaign. Richardson jumps in and says that the war is the only issue that matters, and that it is the only thing he wants to talk about. He blames the press and the president. A Hillary supporter near me blames Richardson for Clinton losing in Iowa. Richardson says his plan gets all the troops out in one year, and talks about his plan. Somewhere in this massive room, Joe Biden is rolling his eyes. Richardson says troops cannot stay until 2013. Talks about his experience as a negotiator and diplomat as being crucial to make this change possible. He then moves on from Iraq, breaking his promise to only talk about one issue that he made only 7 minutes ago, talking about health care and education, and how bad things are in America right now, including NCLB. He gets polite applause through his speech. I’m not sure Richardson’s plan to increase minimum salaries for teachers in Constitutional. As Richardson lists other initiatives and talks about people of NH being open to other candidates, a MASSIVE exodus of people starts moving across the ballroom - apparently Obama people getting ready to storm the stage. It’s pretty damn rude. Richardson is unfazed, and says that the national media should not decide the election. Says that turnout of Iowa showed desire for change. No sooner does Richardson’s exit music start than Obama chants start up. It’s slightly annoying … but somewhat charming at the same time. It’s a thin line where they risk turning into such zealots that they’re ignored, ala Paulites.

9:00: There’s an amazing amount of Obama supporters; This is an Obama event at this point. And it should be clear … these people did not buy tickets yesterday. These are $100 tickets that sold out long ago. His organization has constantly outperformed others at competitive events. I cannot stress enough how much Obama turnout there is here.

9:01: The crowd is forced to take their seats before they can proceed .. and the massive crowd starts booing. In the end it probably just made his crowd that much more noticed.

9:02: Obama comes out to City of Blinding Lights by U2. “The more you see the less you know.” Hopefully that will not be prophetic. He clearly gets the best reception of the evening. The crowd is standing for his speech. Says that in four days, they can prove the cynics wrong. The press is more attentive now than they were for Clinton’s speech. He gives the unity schtick .. and the place goes nuts. He talks about lifting the country up, not bringing each other down; with a lead, that’s a fairly effective shield against a lot of attacks Clinton might otherwise launch. Obama touts his ability to bring youth in Iowa, and how he watched it. Touts his specific support among youth, women, independents, and republicans. Cites Hodes and Shea-Porter. Says he ran because that America is on the cusp of forming a new majority in the country. (A far more compelling reason than Clinton’s, if as idealistic). Talks about how the majority can help solve the problems of Bush, but festered “long before” Bush took over. Attacks lobbyists; this is far more effective without Edwards hitting him on the issue. Another chant breaks out. Talks about challenging interests (Detroit, Wall Street). Moves to health care, and talks about his mother reading insurance forms on her death bed in a hospital bed, and that he understands that pain of seeing a loved one suffer. That’s a new story. Says that the reform will be done by the end of his first term. Says he will end the “tyranny of oil” and create a “green economy.” Talks about Iraq and Afghanistan, and closing Guantanamo. Talks about being a President who taught the Constitution. Talks about a politics of hope. Mentions the “fierce urgency of now.” Says the broken system cannot solve the problems of today. Moves on to talking about how people are calling for experience; says they are saying that entails boiling hope away; says that argument does not work because the real gamble would be to have the same people in the same system in Washington and expecting new results. Says that results do not come from more anger or “turning up the heat” but from more light. Says that working across the aisle when you know who you are gets things done. He is unbelievable with a crowd. Moves on to those who make fun of him for talking about hope. Talks about hope not being blind optimism or ignorance of roadblocks but the “opposite of that.” Says he knows how hard it will be to deliver health care, global warming, and environmental change is difficult. Cites his experience on the streets and as a civil rights attorney. Says a small group of folks believing is how great things start - the revolution, the civil war, world war two, and the civil rights movement. I heard a different version of this speech yesterday and right now it sounds completely fresh. Says this moment is the chance for this generation to make its mark on history. Cites hunger and thirst for something, which is reminiscent of the biblical line ‘hunger and thirst for righteousness.’ Says that his administration would heal the country, and concludes with the loudest applause of the night. Impressive speech thematically and how it was delivered, especially considering he gave a similar speech yesterday!

And that does it, we’ll be back later tonight and tomorrow with more from New Hampshire.