John Stephen

MINNEAPOLIS--Former U.S. Rep. Chuck Douglas laid-out the keys to victory in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary next week.

Douglas, who has endorsed John Stephen (R-Manchester) and is a campaign vice-chair, said if a candidate wins certain parts of the district they are likely to win the primary.

Noting that there are "two quality candidates" in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District, the Portsmouth Herald endorsed John Stephen on Tuesday.

"While we do not agree with him on a number of issues [...] we believe his call for fiscally conservative policies and practices and his determination to hold lawmakers accountable for their votes will provide a needed burst of idealism in the halls of Congress," says the editorial.

Noting that there are "two quality candidates" in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District, the Portsmouth Herald endorsed John Stephen on Tuesday.

"While we do not agree with him on a number of issues [...] we believe his call for fiscally conservative policies and practices and his determination to hold lawmakers accountable for their votes will provide a needed burst of idealism in the halls of Congress," says the editorial.

Former U.S. Rep. and 1st Congressional District candidate Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) picked up the endorsement of the National Rifle Association today.

“You have demonstrated your support in office for our Second Amendment Rights and hunting heritage," wrote NRA Director of Federal Affairs Charles Cunningham in a letter. "We appreciate your pro-gun actions in Congress during your tenure."

Congressional candidate John Stephen got the nod from the mayor of New Hampshire’s biggest city and one of his opponent's former top advisors Wednesday.

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta -- who worked on former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley's congressional staff from 2003 to 2005 -- released a statement Wednesday saying he is backing Stephen in the 1st Congressional District, calling the former state Health and Human Services director the “true fiscal conservative in this race.”

Stephen is running against Bradley for the chance to take on Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter. On Wednesday Guinta said that, while he considers Bradley a friend, he disagreed with the implications coming out of Bradley’s campaign that Stephen is not a real conservative.

DENVER-- The chairwoman of the Rockingham County Democrats thinks the biggest problem facing Granite State politics is the early fall primary, which will be taking place on Sept. 9th.

"My big problem with New Hampshire politics is that we have a late primary," Lenore Patton told PolitickerNH.com. "It makes it tough to know who your opponent will be."

DENVER-U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) says a Republican primary in her district demonstrates disunity among the Republican Party.

"I think what it does highlight is disarray in the party and the tone it sets," Shea-Porter told PolitickerNH.com."I've always called for civility among candidates and so I'm not going to get involved in that."

It is a real good thing that press releases are now done via email and no longer by fax.  If this was 2000 a lot of innocent trees would have been killed for no good reason with a few of the endorsements we have seen recently.

Endorsements are usually great for a press release, but have little to no impact on a campaign.  An exception could be if a popular Governor got involved in a primary. But, what about when the only 1-term governor in the last 80 years endorses your candidacy? John Stephen was lucky enough to have that happen with the support of Craig Benson. 

Then there is the case of the former governor who is deceased so his wife makes the endorsement. Bob Clegg was fortunate enough to pick up this endorsement when Gail Thompson endorsed his candidacy last week. 

And now we have Jennifer Horn getting involved in the “I’m trying to make news, but this is the best I got” category as she announced today that Jim Coburn (you remember him right, 26% in 2006) will co-chair the efforts of her campaign.

All of these candidates will make the argument that those who follow these endorsers represent the heart of the party and they will vote in September.  That may be true, but those who are most involved in the process are also the ones who will make up their mind individually. The White Mountain National forest is the true winner in these endorsements as the trees are saved a very unworthy death.

Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) has released a television ad to respond to an ad released earlier this week by his primary opponent John Stephen (R-Manchester).

Stephen's television spot is critical of Bradley's congressional voting record, and Bradley's ad strikes back at Stephen's record.

MANCHESTER-Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester) each used their closing statements to argue why they are the better candidate to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester).

Bradley said he is ready to face Shea-Porter, while Stephen said it was time for someone else to face the freshman congresswoman.