DURHAM, N.H. — The Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate has no political experience and so little money that her campaign cannot afford lawn signs.
But at age 94, Doris "Granny D" Haddock does have an agenda -- ridding Washington of the influence of big-buck political contributors. "Can a candidate win without taking a dollar from special interests?" she recently asked a small gathering at the University of New Hampshire here. Her eyes narrowed and her voice grew determined: "Watch me."
Haddock is best known for walking across America four years ago to support campaign-finance reform. That 3,225-mile jaunt won her praise from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former President Carter.
Haddock said she fell into her candidacy against the Republican incumbent, Sen. Judd Gregg. In July, days before the deadline for candidates to file, Democratic state Sen. Burt Cohen dropped out of the race when his campaign manager and most of his funds were reported missing. State Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan scrambled for a replacement but could find no one willing to oppose Gregg, who several polls say is the most popular political figure in New Hampshire.
Hours before the filing cutoff, someone mentioned Haddock. So, Sullivan had lunch with Haddock, who was home after running a 10-month voter registration project aimed at low-income women. She urged her to file candidacy papers.
"We had one option, and that was to throw the long ball -- the Hail Mary pass," Sullivan said. She denied that Haddock was being offered up as a political sacrifice. "It is never a [waste] when someone steps forward and talks about issues that are important," Sullivan said. "That's the whole point of living in a democracy."
Haddock shrugs off questions about her age and lack of political experience. She is equally unperturbed by the gap between her campaign's bank account (about $8,000 at last check) and the $2.6 million raised by her opponent. Haddock also dismisses a University of New Hampshire poll that showed 65% of likely Granite State voters supporting Gregg -- and 20% supporting her.
"He is a very good fellow," she said. "But he is a participant in the kind of politics that no longer works for us -- taking millions from special interest groups."
The Gregg campaign declined to comment on Haddock's entry into the race.
One of the first things the Democratic hopeful did after declaring her candidacy was to officially change her name to Doris Granny D Haddock.
