Massachusetts

Ex-Mass. Gov. Bill Weld Visits NH After Forming Exploratory Committee

Weld is the first member of the GOP to announce a potential challenge to President Donald Trump

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld continues to meet with voters in New Hampshire as he considers challenging President Donald Trump in the 2020 Republican presidential primary.

While working the crowd Thursday at the Roundabout Diner and Lounge in Portsmouth, many people recognized Weld from the 1990s when he was a popular Republican governor from the neighboring state to the south.

As he decides if he will take on Trump in a Republican primary, Weld is spending most of his time stumping in the Granite State.

NBC10 Boston asked why New Hampshire is a good fit for him politically and he provided a non-political answer.

"Well, among other things, I'm an authentic outdoorsman. Not a fake outdoorsman who has to go to Cabela’s and buy all his stuff the day before he shows his face in New Hampshire," said Weld.

Weld’s real challenge is convincing the state's Republican primary voters, two-thirds of whom support Trump, to vote for him. Welds said he's confident in his pitch to Trump supporters.

"I've always been a Republican. Mr. Trump has been a New York City, liberal Democrat most of his life. And on the issues, if people care at all about someone being an economic conservative, that's me," said Weld.

Weld spent seven years in the Reagan Justice Department. In the 90s, he was ranked the country's most fiscally conservative Governor. He knows that reeling in the state's large number of independent voters may be his best shot.

Weld says he'll take a leave of absence from his law firm if and when he makes his decision final in April.

"I won't have done my job unless I get to start not Monday, but at some point at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave," he said.

After making a number of stops in New Hampshire this week, Weld is scheduled to make at least one other stop March 31 in Dover for a house party at the home of former GOP chairman Fergus Cullen.

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