Norelli Honored at NH Dems BBQ [VIDEO]

Hundreds of Democrats gathered in Concord on Tuesday to chow down on hamburgers, chips, cookies, and sodas, and raise money for the state party's 2012 election.

In an old-fashioned parking lot BBQ setting, both young and old mingled at picnic tables, rekindled old friendships, talked about the future of the party, potential candidates planning campaigns, and what the Democrats had to do in order to take back the Legislature from the Republicans next year. 

The event was billed as a chance to honor New Hampshire House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli of Portsmouth and Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen of Concord. But the big draw was a man from the southern part of New England - Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick - who swung through the state today to raise money for the party, both at the BBQ, and in a private setting with large donors, at Larsen's home.

"It's not too often you get a couple hundred people to show up and have a BBQ in your parking lot," Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party noted. "We always like to invite people to our headquarters ... it's one of the best state headquarters in the country." 

After thanking officials, Patrick gave a rousing Democratic stump speech, talking about his own upbringing, rising out of poverty to go to boarding school in Milton, Mass. He also pointed to the fact that in just one generation, his family had gone from him being in poverty, to his daughter traveling four continents, going to college, and being able to meet the President of the United States. 

"That is an American story," he said. "To be able to imagine a better way for ourselves and our family, and then work for it, is the American dream." 

Patrick called on Democrats to join together to ensure that the American Dream was preserved, "because we owe a generational responsibility to leave things better for those who come behind us."

According to both Buckley and Patrick, the Obama For American re-election campaign had about 45 summer interns preparing to canvass the state for the president's re-election campaign. They called on their fellow Democrats to volunteer their time and effort to help the interns and make sure that the president won the 2012 election.