Welcome mat is out for campaign workers

NASHUA -- There are just a handful of presidential candidate field offices here and months to go before the big day. But downtown businesses in this city are gearing up to take advantage of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary.

In a novel move, nearly two-dozen Nashua restaurants, boutiques, and haircutting salons have joined to offer 15 percent discounts to campaign workers who flash a campaign badge or out-of-state driver's license, along with the promotional flier announcing the discount.

"A lot of these people give up jobs and put their lives on hold to come and do this," said Sherrilyn Alden-Bellavance, owner of a New Age store, Ancient Moon, and organizer of the effort. "I figured that they should feel welcome in the town."

In addition, she said, the discounts will benefit Nashua's downtown, which is among the region's most vibrant, even as it competes with a slew of nearby strip malls.

The discount program was announced three months after state officials scuttled a plan by the state's tourism office to promote the primary as a draw for visitors. Officials worried that the plan would make New Hampshire look as if it were seeking to retain the first-in-the-nation primary because of the money it brings into the state and not, as New Hampshire officials assert, because it is part of the state's heritage.

The financial impact of the primary is a subject of debate. A study commissioned by the New Hampshire Political Library and conducted by University of New Hampshire researchers found that, in 2000, that income generated by the primary was a fraction of the state's gross product of $42 billion. In 2000, the economic impact of the primary was $306 million, 50 percent more than the $210 million impact in 1996.

Specialists say that the campaign workers and tourists attracted by the primary are in New Hampshire for too short a time to have a major impact on the state's economy. Yet some regions -- like southern New Hampshire, where population density attracts a constant flow of presidential hopefuls and their followers -- do see more of a windfall.

Mayor Bernard Streeter of Nashua said his city has traditionally enjoyed a financial bump from the primary because candidates walk up and down Main Street, bringing media attention and dollars to downtown businesses. This year, he said, all three of the city's major hotels are booked for much of January. (New Hampshire's primary date has not yet been set by the secretary of state; the state held its primary in 2004 on Jan. 27.)

Several presidential contenders have already opened campaign field officers in Nashua, including Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Christopher Dodd and former senator John Edwards. Streeter said that three other contenders -- Senator John McCain, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney -- have expressed interest in opening field offices.

The discount for campaign workers, he said, would increase the city's boost from the primary.

"It's a great way to capitalize on the New Hampshire primary," Streeter said.

So far, 22 businesses have signed up to take part in the discount program. As the primary nears, organizers say they hope to see more businesses come aboard. The list now includes five hair salons, a knitting supply store, a handbag boutique, a florist, a bakery, a rug gallery, a women's clothing store, a jewelry store, a baby goods store, gift shops, a dry cleaner, and restaurants.

"I think they are trying to push what we do in this country forward, so why not?" said Diane Hurd, assistant manager of Patisserie Bleu, a bakery and cafe participating in the discount program. "It shouldn't matter who they support, because they are taking time out of their own lives to push what they believe in."

So far, only a handful of workers are staffing the Nashua offices. One of them, Saul Shemesh, Clinton's field director for the Nashua region, said he had yet to use the discount but expected to make frequent use of the dry cleaner.

"Who has time for laundry?" he said.

Program organizer Alden-Bellavance said she herself is a Clinton campaign volunteer. But she emphasized that the discount would extend to campaign workers of all stripes.

"This will be going to everyone, not just Democrats or just Republicans," she said, "because what everyone is doing is really admirable."

Sarah Schweitzer can be reached at schweitzer@globe.com.