Gov. Sununu optimistic after voting in Newfields

A confident Gov. Chris Sununu predicted a big victory not only for himself but for fellow Republicans.

The first-term GOP governor, after voting early Tuesday morning at the town hall in the small Seacoast town where he lives in Newfields, told reporters, “We feel very confident. It’s not just going to be a win, it’s going to be a big win. And not just for us, but for Republicans across the state.”

Sununu discounted the final public opinion polls, which indicated a tightening race for the corner office.

“Those are polls. Were the polls accurate in 2016? No. Not at all. We don’t even do our own polling here in this campaign. I believe the only poll is to talk to people one on one. It’s the only poll I believe in,” he said.

He went on to contrast his campaign with that of his Democratic challenger, saying, “We had two very separate approaches. Ours was very positive and that’s how we started. That’s how we’re going to finish.”

“My opponent talks about the negativity of Washington. All those attack ads, nonstop. I don’t think anybody likes to see those kind of attack ads. It doesn’t say what you’re going to do for the state,” the governor added.

New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is predicted a turnout of approximately 540,000 voters in New Hampshire, which would be a state record for a midterm election.

“It’s a great thing. It means a lot of people are engaged," Sununu said. "They’re all coming out and voting. I think we ran a tremendous race, stayed very positive, talked about results, talked about specifics, exactly what the people of New Hampshire wanted. So for me, I think the more the merrier. It’s just great that everybody’s getting out and participating.

Kelly, speaking to reporters after greeting supporters and students at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, said the turnout could help her campaign.

“The more voters we get out, I just think it’s better for everyone. It’s great for our campaign. I’m excited about it. I’m optimistic. And the most important thing is everybody get out to vote,” she implored.

Sununu, asked if the contests in New Hampshire would be influenced by the national political climate and whether they would end up being a referendum on President Donald Trump, said, “Not here in New Hampshire. Not at all. We do things differently here.”

“We’ve done a very good job keeping that negativity of Washington out of here,” he added. “We have one of the most educated electorates in the country.”

In the high-profile First Congressional District race to succeed retiring four-term U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter of Rochester, GOP nominee Eddie Edwards greeted voters at Dover’s Ward 2, where he cast his ballot. Edwards later greeted voters in Rochester before heading to the central part of the state.

Executive Councilor and Democratic nominee Chris Pappas voted in Manchester, where he grew up and returned after college. But in the afternoon he spoke to voters at the polls in Exeter, Portsmouth, and Durham.

Asked about the heavy turnout, Pappas said, “I think it helps democracy when people are turning out. So I’m really excited to see that there are lines all over New Hampshire. And I think at the end of the day there’s going to be a pretty clear message sent this year."