PA Man Tries to Make a Point About NH Senate Race

Call it a mix of humor while making a political point.

Michael Morrill, the executive director of Keystone Progress, a liberal group from Pennsylvania and a registered Democrat, came to the Granite State on Jan. 27, to launch his race for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate to face-off against Jeanne Shaheen, here in New Hampshire.

During a tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek press conference, Morrill outlined his connections to the state – going to summer camp here as a boy, two brothers that reside here, and his father retiring here – as reasons that he should be the next senator representing the state, taking pointed jabs at former NH Sen. Bob Smith, who recently announced he would be moving back to the state to run, and former Mass. Sen. Scott Brown, who has moved to the state and might run.

In a “simple word,” Morrill said, his announcement to run was all about “opportunity,” the chance to not have to work an 80 week while getting government financed healthcare and a free pension. He added that he was willing to pander for votes too, noting that he had just purchased a New Hampshire tie at the Statehouse to show that he was willing to do all he could to win the seat.

After the press conference, Morrill revealed that he wasn’t a stand-up comedian but was actually the director of the sister organization of Granite State Progress and after chatting with members of the group, decided to come to the state to show how ridiculous it was for Brown and Smith to run for the GOP nomination.

“We like to do creative things to make a point,” he said. “All the things I said about my experiences here, those are all true … I love this state and I know about it. But in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t think that just because I’ve been here many times, that I’ve spent lots of time here or vacationed here, that I could represent this state. That’s the height of absurdity. There are brilliant people in this state, incredible folks, that I meet all the time … I know there are people who could represent the conservative point of view who live here.”