NH house partying

It seems something of an anathema, if not downright risky, to invite strangers, sight unseen, to one's home to break bread and sit down in front of the telly.
But such is the culture of New Hampshire in Primary mode. House parties are held to meet the candidates or, as was the case last night, to watch the candidates on television.
I accepted the online invitation of NH Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli and her husband, Mike, to come over and watch the Democrat Primary Debate on television. Debora is a former State Senator now in the powerful but esoteric role as one of an elite council which advises the Governor, approving budgetary matters and nominations. She has been active in supporting Hillary's campaign, so much so that she has already held a house party for the NY Senator - evidence of which one noticed in the form of a large Hillary Rodham Clinton autograph on the wall.

The Pignatelli home was a salubrious contemporary spread in one of those uber-bourgeois gated estates in which the homes line the fairways of a golf course. The windows look out onto lush lake-view green - and golfers tramping past with their bags of clubs.


Inside the front door we were greeted by a personable young Hillary-for-President staffer called Alex and the usual form-filling registration complete with campaign buttons and stickers. Alex is one of that impressive breed of young American political campaign professionals who move their worlds to the key places where campaign focus is required. Originally a journalism graduate from Maryland, he has come from California and places diverse to spend the best part of a year in NH on the Hillary-for-President mission. He has just settled into an apartment in Manchester where the NH Hillary campaign headquarters has been set up. We saw his ilk on West Wing - young, bright, single-minded and earnest.

Debora materialised to issue a warm welcome and lead us to her vast spread of food. We had not expected such hospitality so had quickly eaten beforehand. There were about 20 people, most of whom seemed to know each other. They were indifferent to our arrival. We chatted with our hosts and, as time came for the telecast, we pulled up chairs and formed a group around the telly in the high-ceilinged living room.
A convivial spirit ensued in the sharing of the experience - 90 intense minutes interspersed with the odd comment or eruption of mirth.
After the debate, Debora had liaised a conference call with Hillary's campaign strategist - but the phone was playing dire hold muzac for so long that, finally, we made our departure because I was getting edgy about making my nightly call too my mother in hospital in Australia.

And, of course, one wanted quietly to digest the contents of the debate. It had made a number of changes in my thinking.