In New Hampshire, we are inundated with politicians who visit our state with presidential aspirations. Many of them come and go, make their case, and as soon as the primary season is over, we never hear from them again. Their impact is largely negligible as their interest in our state is one of blatant self-interest.

Tulsi Gabbard is a different kind of politician — and indeed — a different kind of human being.

Tulsi Gabbard visited our beloved Granite State this weekend, and her impact with our people was indelible. The spirit of Aloha that was extended by her and the campaign was wholly unique — and this spirit is bigger than politics. She connected with people on a deeply human level that encompasses empathy, love, respect, and shared interest in correcting the wobble that our country (and indeed our planet) now urgently faces. Tulsi took the time to visit all of our communities (both small and large), enduring a grueling schedule while maintaining a poise and state of being present that was remarkable to observe.

We need a president who has the ability to unify people across the political spectrum. We need a president who has the courage, vision, and principled fortitude to call out corruption — wherever it exists. We need a president who connects with our spirit & heart as much as she connects with our mind. We need a President with an inexhaustible fire to serve our people and our planet.

Many remember Tulsi from when she bravely relinquished her position as vice chair of the DNC to endorse Bernie Sanders and call out the inequitable adjudication of the 2016 Democratic Primary. She did this at a time when nobody else would for fear of political backlash. Many remember Tulsi when she was the only candidate to stand with our Indigenous family at Standing Rock to preserve our sacred waters (something near & dear to the people of New Hampshire). Other candidates refused to do this because they were concerned with the optics of being "too controversial." Tulsi visited war-torn Syria to meet with the Syrian people, hear from people on the ground, and meet with Assad to open a dialogue on how we can prevent yet another disastrous, regime-change war that does not serve the American & Syrian people. The establishment media and members of the pro-war lobby (many within her own party) criticized her for this while serving special interest groups who want to see more war, more refugee displacement, and more carnage.

We do not have time to wait yet another generation for our politics to catch up to the needs of our people and our planet. Tulsi is a Democrat, a Hindu, a veteran, a woman of color, and a Congresswoman from Hawaii. But above that — she is a human being committed to something greater than self-interest; greater than partisan group-think; greater than the "go along to get along" order of the day. She has put herself in harm's way to serve the people (serving two tours of duty in the Middle East), seen the cost of war up close & personal, and has the confidence to speak out against the "corruption of spirit" (as she calls it) that threatens to enlarge this dark shadow that hovers over our toxic politics.

Tulsi came to my home state and even came into my own home — to meet with us, listen to us, look us in the eye — and genuinely connect and empathize with the pain that people are experiencing, and offer a resonant, healing solution that everyone feels when they have the opportunity to hear and see her in-person.

The people of New Hampshire can spot a phony from 1,000 miles away — and they can also identify authenticity when they see it — and that's what thousands of people from New Hampshire experienced when they met with Tulsi Gabbard this past weekend.

While many are calculating and assessing the field, hesitant to endorse any candidate at this stage, I know an exceptional leader with the ability to heal this planet when I see and feel one. Her name is Tulsi Gabbard and I am proud to stand with her.