New Hampshire $600 Million School Bond Issue

Reporters corner President Bartlet outside the polling booth in a New Hampshire church on primary day. They ask directly if he voted for this $600 million bond measure. Bartlet dodges with legalese at first, then states plainly that he supported it because the measure funds public school improvements. The crowd cheers as he pivots the local ballot question into a broader endorsement of education investment.

2 appearances

Purpose

Authorizes $600 million in bonds to improve public education facilities and programs in New Hampshire.

Significance

Bartlet converts a routine vote query into campaign messaging on education priorities. His affirmative stance reinforces his policy credentials amid primary scrutiny, with Abbey's deflection setting a light tone beforehand.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E7 · Election Night

Abbey Deflects; Bartlet Reframes the Stakes

The $600 million school bond issue is explicitly named and becomes the substantive pivot: reporters press about it, Abbey cites it among key races, and Bartlet publicly endorses it, turning a local ballot measure into a policy talking point.

Before: An active item on the New Hampshire ballot, subject to local debate and media attention.

After: Receives a public endorsement from the President in the moment, framed as support for public education without tax abatement—its visibility elevated by the exchange.

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S4E7 · Election Night

Framing the Vote: Country Over State

The $600 million bond issue functions as the policy focal point: reporters press for the President's stance and Bartlet ultimately endorses it, using the measure to demonstrate commitment to public education and to give concrete policy content to his rhetorical framing.

Before: A contested ballot measure in New Hampshire, publicly discussed and voted on that day; politically sensitive in the polling context.

After: Publicly endorsed by the President in the moment, the bond is rhetorically strengthened by his support but remains a ballot measure awaiting voters' decisions.

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