As already noted, new Democrats outnumbered new Republicans in every county of New Hampshire from 2002 to 2008. If there's any good news in these numbers for the Grand Old Party, it's that their strongest growth occurred in the two most populous counties of the Granite State:
- In Rockingham County, where roughly 1 of 4 voters live, the number of Republicans increased 17 percent, 6 points higher than 11 percent GOP growth statewide.
- In neighboring Strafford County, traditionally a Democratic stronghold, Republicans increased 15 percent, slightly higher than the statewide rate.
- In Hillsborough County, home of nearly 30 percent of New Hampshire voters, growth in registered Republicans matched the statewide rate of 11 percent.
Looking ahead to 2010, the above numbers are a modicum of good news for Republicans fighting to regain the First Congressional District seat, lost four years ago to Carol Shea-Porter. As we will see, the drought of new Republicans is not quite as severe there as it is in the Second CD.
