Green sees red on Pelosi
Congressional candidate calls campaign visit a ‘bribe’
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi traveled to the East Coast to help Lori Trahan raise money for her campaign in the 3rd Congressional district, a stunt her opponent is calling a bribe.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Nancy Pelosi is coming here to buy Lori’s vote,” congressional challenger Rick Green said. “My vote is not for sale.”
Pelosi was the guest speaker at Trahan’s fundraiser yesterday, to which Green said, “average voters weren’t invited,” with recommended contribution levels ranging from $500 to $2,700. The event was held at Concord’s Colonial Inn and hosted by Rufus Gifford, the former ambassador to Denmark who came in fifth in the 10-way Democratic primary for the seat.
Trahan’s office maintained that she is not committing to any vote on leadership in the Democratic Party until after the election.
“Her focus is winning her election in November and that Democrats take back the majority in the House,” spokeswoman Gretchen Grosky said. “Rick Green has already sold his vote to Donald Trump by giving him the maximum amount of money allowed by law, and Green supports the Trump agenda. Lori has said since the beginning of her campaign that both parties in Washington aren’t doing enough for working people, and she will continue standing up for change if she’s elected to Congress.”
While political analysts on either side of the aisle differ on whether or not Pelosi will help or hurt Trahan, they agreed on one thing: that Pelosi is a polarizing figure and a successful fundraiser.
“Nancy Pelosi is politically toxic. She is the embodiment of Washington dysfunction and partisan gridlock,” political consultant and former Romney advisor Ryan Williams said. “Lori Trahan’s decision here is clear — she’s willing to trade some negative press for donations from big-money liberal donors.”
“Lori is going to win,” Democratic consultant Scott Ferson countered. “And the Democrats have a very strong chance of taking the House back, so being with her, committing to voting for her, I think it’s a smart play for a freshman member of Congress.”
While Ferson said he would be “shocked” if Pelosi isn’t the next speaker, Williams isn’t convinced. He pointed to the 46 Democratic nominees and 11 incumbents who have vowed to vote against her.
“There are an overwhelming number of Democrats who understand Pelosi is a divisive figure who should never be speaker again and Lori Trahan is, unfortunately, not one of them,” Williams said.
The political consultants agreed that Pelosi’s appearance could bring in some serious dough. Grosky said the amount of money raised at the fundraiser was not yet available.
“You can criticize Nancy Pelosi for a lot, but she is and largely remains in her job because of her fundraising prowess,” Ferson said. “She is the best at it on the Democratic side.”
“There’s no other reason to invite Nancy Pelosi to an event,” Williams said. “She gets you zero votes but she does bring in special interest contributions.”
Williams said that Trahan is a “Washington insider.” She was a top staffer for former Congressman Marty Meehan on Capitol Hill, who Williams said is a close ally of Pelosi.
“It’s not surprising that Pelosi would want to campaign with her,” Williams said. “It’s an indication of the type of congresswoman Trahan would be — a loyal foot soldier and a puppet for Nancy Pelosi.”