Small Bloggers Cut a Wide Swath in NH

Average Joes moonlighting as political bloggers are wielding the power of kingmakers in tiny New Hampshire, and candidates—at least the second-tier—are noticing. Says a high school Latin teacher of his Blue Hampshire blog: “One minute I'm in the teachers' lounge making copies and the next I'm spending 30 minutes on the phone with Bill Richardson,” the Journal reports.

The influential Everyman blog—like counterparts in Iowa, Florida, and South Caroline—benefits candidates short on publicity. "You have people who can convert readers into potential activists," says a Chris Dodd staffer. John Edwards underestimated Blue Hampshire’s weight when he canceled a second interview with the site—throwing one powerful Latin teacher’s endorsement to Dodd. (More New Hampshire stories.)