Sheehan Will Head Hillary's Campaign in New Hampshire

Bill Sheehan to to co-chair Hillary Clinton's Campaign

By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2007

Prominent Democratic attorney Bill Shaheen today will be named a co-chair of Hillary Clinton's national and state Presidential campaign.

"I've looked at all the candidates and Hillary is just one of these people that when someone knocks her down she comes back up stronger," Shaheen said yesterday. He called the New York senator "a good and honest person, intelligent, and she can get things done."

The Shaheen endorsement will be formally unveiled today at a news conference at the Merrimack Restaurant in Manchester.

Shaheen is the husband of former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and a partner in the Shaheen and Gordon law firm. They reside in Madbury.

Bill Shaheen was the state campaign chairman for Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004, while his wife, the former governor was a national Kerry co-chairman. Jeanne Shaheen is now director of the Institute for Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and is expected to remain neutral in the primary race.

Bill Shaheen was also a chairman of Al Gore's Presidential campaign in 2000, but his political activism dates back three decades. He co-chaired the successful 1976 New Hampshire Primary campaign for Jimmy Carter, and a year later, President Carter appointed him as U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire.

Shaheen was appointed a judge of the Durham District Court in 1981. He resigned in 1996 to help with his wife's three successful campaigns for governor.

Shaheen said he appreciates the historic nature of Clinton's campaign.

"I like the idea that America has grown to the point where we look at people equally," he said. "I loved New Hampshire when they elected my wife and I loved New Hampshire for electing Carol Shea-Porter to Congress."

He said that despite having a growing list of high-profile endorsements, Clinton "understands that she has to come to the state and earn each vote, one at a time. And she wants to do that.

"Endorsements are not going to deliver a win," Shaheen said. "We may open up the gateway but she knows she must be the candidate who earns the votes in her own right."

Sources said Bill Shaheen's name was discussed at a meeting of Clinton supporters at an undisclosed location yesterday