Observers from both parties are looking towards the next election as politicians examine yesterday's election results.

In New Hampshire, the Democrats were able to maintain control of the State House and Executive Council, while they swept the table in the congressional races.

Rich Killion, a Republican consultant, and Steve Marchand, former mayor of Portsmouth, both said that the 2010 election provides opportunities for both political parties.

"They [Republicans] can use it has an opportunity and get a sense of what principles we stand for," Killion said. He said that Republicans also need to recruit a strong gubernatorial candidate and build on the message of fiscal restraint.

"Republicans always do well when they have a strong candidate for governor," Killion said. "It creates a spillover effect and energizes the party."

Marchand said that the Democrats should use the next two years to build the party's bench of candidates.

"Democrats should take advantage of our strength to identify exciting local candidates as the next step in building a long-term deep bench." Marchand said the party should look towards the 2009 municipal elections as a way to build the party's strength and attempt to make inroads in traditionally Republican areas.

"We need to look at ways that we can build upon, and make inroads, in places we haven't done so well in like Londonderry, Salem the commuter zone," Marchand said. "Those are the places that have put a cap on how much we can increase our majority by."

Scott Spradling, a former WMUR political reporter, said that local Republicans need to "rebuild from scratch," which includes dumping current New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen.

"I think they need to completely rebuild. I think they need to find a new leader, I think they need to find a way to begin to find a message that sticks to their core but is appealing," Spradling said.

Spradling also said that the Republicans have to wait until the Democratically-controlled State House makes a mistake.

"They basically have to rely upon to other team to make a mistake that they can highlight," Spradling added.