Wednesday night's meeting of the Sandown Republican Committee was a lesson in New Hampshire traditions: painstakingly scrutinizing presidential candidates and fanatically rooting for Boston sports teams.
"The clock is ticking here, folks," said the committee chairman, Roger Barczak, as the monthly meeting crept past 8 p.m., when legions of New Englanders moved in front of the television to see if their team would win the Stanley Cup.
"Right, the Bruins are on," replied Sonia Silva, a member.
Even though the meeting went well into the first period ("the score is 1-0," Ms. Silva announced), eight members showed up on the second floor of the pine-walled town hall, which also doubles as the Sandown Grange.
The committee in this town of 6,000, about 50 miles north of Boston, was established in March 2010, but is looking to make a big impact. It already is asking Republican presidential candidates to speak at its meetings and conducting polls on assorted issues like proposed state legislation and Libya.
On Wednesday, the group hosted a professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire, Dante J. Scala, who came with a PowerPoint presentation on the 2012 race.
"Of activists and people who really get involved with these things," Professor Scala asked, "What percentage of people have made up their minds or found a candidate?"
The committee members shook their heads.
"I don't know anyone who has, to be honest," said Matt Russell.
Ms. Silva was the one exception. She plans to volunteer for Michele Bachmann. "Two years ago I saw her, and there's just something there," Ms. Silva said. "She just seems to be a good person with integrity and character. Not because she's a woman, but because of who she is."
The group seemed to think that Ms. Bachmann could mount a large fund-raising campaign and be the most viable of the candidates on the right of the Republican field.
Bob Nickerson, who was wearing a T-shirt that read "Comrade Obama," said he liked Mitt Romney, but not the universal health care he helped enact while governor of Massachusetts.
"I'd support him because he's the lesser of two evils, Mr. Nickerson, 57, said. "But one of those hold your nose and pull the lever."
But these Republicans are in no rush.
"My opinion could change three times by the time I pull the lever," Mr. Nickerson said.
Biz Corrow, 60, said Republicans in New Hampshire were "fired up" for the 2012 elections, having just gained a majority in the Legislature and sent Republicans to Congress. He believes candidates need to use Facebook and Twitter to get the word out. But for now, he is taking a more time-tested approach.
"There's a standing joke in New Hampshire politics that you ask an old farmer what he thought of candidate X," Mr. Corrow said. "And he said, 'I don't know, I've only met him three or four times.' And that's what I'm doing."
Now it was time to watch the Bruins win the Stanley Cup.
"The meeting is adjourned at 9:05 p.m.," Mr. Barczak said. "Go Bruins!" KATIE ZEZIMA
First Published: June 17, 2011, 4:00 a.m.
