KITTERY, Maine - The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is a major economic engine on both sides of the Piscataqua, so it gets a lot of attention from politicians. But while the unions on the shipyard endorse Democrats almost exclusively, individuals on base are no monolith. New Hampshire Public Radio's Emily Corwin takes us inside the shipyard vote.
There's a painted blue line surrounding the entrance to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Over that blue line, political campaigning is not allowed. But just a few inches this side of it - politics are in motion.
"Today I stand here on behalf of the Metal Trades Council here at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, to formally endorse Congressman Michaud, for governor of Maine," says Paul O'Connor, president of the largest of the four unions on the shipyard, all of which make endorsements.
"And with 6,000 people working on the yard each day - placing their votes in both Maine and New Hampshire - let's just say this Shipyard is a pretty tasty morsel for any number of candidates in the area," O'Connor says.
Not A Monolith
Down the road in Kittery at Town Pizza, a group of eight shipyard workers eat pizza pies and place bets on NASCAR drivers - a weekly ritual.
A few from this crew say they vote Republican every time. But the majority on the shipyard vote Democratic. Take Kevin Gross. "Yeah, I'm a union pipefitter," he says.
Gross says the shipyard is a military installation, so people know better than to talk politics on the yard. But, he says -- the unions almost always back Democrats - and he tends to follow their lead. "Yeah, I think they be lookin' out for our best interests, to be honest with ya, you know," Gross says.
The Upper Hand
But while Democrats may have an advantage at the shipyard via unions, there's another group with a leg up come election time. Incumbents. Like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who sits on the Armed Services Committee. "We are working hard every day, to ensure that the resources are there for all of you," Shaheen said.
In September, incumbents Jeanne Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter, and Maine Congressman Mike Michaud - who's now running for governor -- accompanied Vice President Joe Biden to the shipyard. They could address the workers, because they were on official business - thanks to their current seats in Washington.
And while campaigning on the shipyard is not allowed, Republican strategist Jamie Burnett says visits like that can seem kind of campaign-ey. "It's very hard to tell where that line is," he says. "I think there are official events that can seem and look very political, but I suppose you chalk that up to trappings of incumbency."
Shaheen's opponent, Scott Brown, who was actually born at a hospital on shipyard grounds, wouldn't qualify even for the full tour, let alone a speaking opportunity here.
Nobody’s Against The Shipyard
Of course, it's not just the folks on the shipyard candidates are trying to woo. The unions estimate the yard pumps $666 million into the local economy. And, of course, the yard is a cultural icon around here. The community wants to see it thrive.
So when it comes to politicians, Republican strategist Jamie Burnett says, "The best way I can put it is like this: They all endorse the shipyard, but they may not all get the endorsement of the shipyard."
Burnett learned this the hard way, when he was working for former GOP Congressman John Sununu's 2006 reelection campaign. The previous year, New Hampshire's entirely-Republican delegation worked hard to keep the shipyard from closing during the Pentagon's Base Realignment and Closure process.
"And I remember when the 2006 election rolled around, the labor unions endorsed Carol Shea-Porter and I didn't understand that at all," he says.
Union President Paul O'Connor says endorsements are about more than who's gone to bat for the shipyard: They have a lot to do with the politics of labor.
Workers Support GOP Senator Susan Collins
That's not to say it's impossible for a Republican to gain support from at least some of the yard's unions. In August, Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins won the backing of three shipyard unions.
Standing on that same blue line just outside the shipyard gate, Collins said for that. she was touched and pleased. Not present was Paul O'Connor and the shipyard's largest union, the Metal Trades Council. That endorsement went to the Democrat.