BY JENN McDOWELL
Who would have thought a bubbly, unassuming, cookie-serving mom would be at presidential candidate events, educating attendees about wasting the federal budget and what to do about the country’s deficit?
Hooksett resident Christine Frydenborg, 37, says it’s one of the most original tools Priorities New Hampshire uses to get their ideas across to voters.
Frydenborg, a celebrated play actress and performer since the age of 5, responded to a casting call from Priorities New Hampshire in the early spring for the role of spokesperson “Cookie Mom.”
So far, Cookie Mom has been at events for Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney, just to name a few, bearing sugar cookies frosted with pie charts depicting federal government spending.
Priorities New Hampshire does not endorse candidates, but rather attempts to inform voters about what they view as wasteful federal spending.
“Cookie Mom is supposed to be apolitical,” Frydenborg said. “The goal is to be appealing to people.”
She characterized Cookie Mom as the culmination of several different women: teacher, happy homemaker, educator and assertive woman.
Even with her bubbly attitude and winning smile, Cookie Mom occasionally gets the boot.
“There are some events we’re not welcome at, and sometimes, very rudely not welcomed,” she said, adding that being kicked out casts a negative light on Priorities New Hampshire that is not deserved.
At an event at the American Legion in Londonderry, Frydenborg said, state Rep. Al Baldassaro advised police to be on the lookout for an antiwar protester wearing and apron and brandishing a basket of cookies.
“He said my presence was an insult to veterans,” Frydenborg said, adding that one of the goals of Priorities New Hampshire is to get better health care for veterans.
Some campaigns have negative preconceived notions of who “Cookie Mom” is and what Priorities New Hampshire stands for, Frydenborg said.
“Every event is different,’ she said. “We are not here to interfere with candidates’ campaigns.”
So far, Cookie Mom, who is single with no kids and does not, contrary to popular belief, make the cookies herself, has gained endorsements from several candidates including Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel and Bill Richardson.