Honey Alexander, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander, told students of her positive feelings toward her husband's campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire in a lunch discussion yesterday.
"I was just in Iowa and I am very upbeat about how the campaign looks there," Alexander said to a group of about 30 students in Morrison Commons in the Rockefeller Center for the Social Sciences.
"The feeling [in Iowa] is very good," she said. "It's just a matter of getting the voters to the caucuses next week."
Alexander explained the difference between caucus and the New Hampshire primary. Citizens in Iowa must attend meetings in order to cast their votes for the candidates.
The Louisiana caucus was held yesterday, but Alexander said her husband chose not to run on the slate because he thinks Iowa should be the first caucus and New Hampshire the first primary.
Alexander said she has "faith in Lamar" and that is why she campaigns so heavily for her husband. She also cited his work as a businessman, lawyer and governor which make him a well-rounded candidate.
"These balance him out in the end to put him in a unique position in this campaign," she said. "It's important that we not elect someone this year who has spent his entire adult life in Washington."
Alexander has visited New Hampshire every week for the past several months campaigning for her husband.
"Lamar will do well in New Hampshire," she said. "What's 'well' we're not sure."
Alexander addressed the rising popularity of publisher Steve Forbes, shown by many recent polls including one released by WMUR-Dartmouth College Monday.
"Steve Forbes has gone up and plateaued and he is on his way down," she said.
Alexander said Forbes is not a viable candidate and has relied on heavy campaign spending to propel his campaign.
"We think the New Hampshire people really value a grassroots campaign," she said.
Her husband gives "energy and momentum" to New Hampshire voters and for those who knew him, "they felt good about his campaign."
Alexander's husband is currently in the process of walking across the state in order to rally support for his campaign.
But Alexander told The Dartmouth she did not know if her husband would return to the College prior to the February 20 primary.
Alexander acknowledged that few Dartmouth students are registered to vote in New Hampshire but said mobilizing student support and political interest was her larger goal.
"I want to encourage these students to continue political activity," she said.
One student questioned Alexander about her role as a political wife, drawing upon ideas raised about Hillary Rodham Clinton's role in her husband's presidency.
"It's been an interesting process," Alexander said. "It's not really anything I aspired to 20 years ago."
"When Lamar was governor I was a very active first lady, but I didn't do any policy making as first lady," she said. "I don't make speeches about my own positions when I travel for him."
Alexander said her interests lie mainly with issues "surrounding families and children."
