Former Clinton admin. official James McConaha backing McCain

I'm watching the Fox News Channel this morning, and there are occasional shots of a crowd awaiting the first joint campaign appearance of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, which will take place this afternoon in Unity (get it?), New Hampshire.

But not every Democrat in the Granite State is united, as the Nashua Telegraph reports:

A former Clinton administration official and Concord Democrat agreed Thursday to co-chair Democrats for John McCain, which backs the Arizona Republican's presidential campaign.

James McConaha served as Bill Clinton's Farm Service Agency director in New Hampshire. Former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen named him to be the state's director of historical resources.

McConaha's co-chair is his wife, Valery Mitchell, a longtime party activist who's volunteered to work on several past Democratic campaigns.

"I think in general both of us felt that this is such an important position, perhaps the most important job in the world that it requires a person who has the experience and the competence to hold it," McConaha said.

New Hampshire used to be solidly Republican, like Vermont. But unlike its western neighbor, Massachusetts tax-refugees moving into New Hampshire have kept the state from falling into the Democrats' grasp. But of late it's been leaning Democratic; George W. Bush won the state in 2000, but John Kerry prevailed four years later.

McConaha and Mitchell's move is a good sign, not just for New Hampshire, but for the other 56 states (Obama's count) in the nation.

Related post:

Some Congressional Dems won't endorse Obama

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