NH-01

New Hampshire's largest newspaper has endorsed former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester) in the 1st Congressional District Republican primary.

The Union Leader cited Stephen's fiscal record for the reason behind their endorsement.

Former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester) unveiled a plan devoted to veterans and released a list of endorsements from Granite State veterans.

The release came hours after his Republican primary opponent, Jeb Bradley, touted his veteran endorsements during a debate on WGIR-AM this morning.

Listening to the very entertaining and heated debate this morning on WGIR radio between Jeb Bradley and John Stephen I came away with one conclusion, Bradley needs to learn who he is running against.  Congressman, it’s John Stephen, not Stephens. 

The DCCC Independent Expenditure (IE) will begin airing radio ads in New Hampshire responding to a recent radio spot by the conservative political group Freedom's Watch.

Freedom's Watch has begun airing radio ad and television ads targeting congressional Democratic candidates' stance on offshore drilling, PolitickerNV.com reported yesterday. The conservative group has targeted U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) with a radio ad buy.

The conservative website GraniteGrok has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro).

"When one looks at his record and considers the general center-right makeup of the 1st CD, he is as closely matched with constituents as a politician could be," wrote Doug Lambert. "His conservative credentials come attached with a reasonable and respected record on the environment that can be defended against the overheated rhetoric that will be undoubtedly deployed by Shea-Porter and the big money special interest groups backing her (Sierra Club, etc)."

After the dust settles from the election the question will be asked whether or not competitive primaries, in both congressional districts, benefited the Republican Party.

Did the primaries help or hinder voter outreach? What if there are lingering harsh feelings? Should the candidates have used tougher words on U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord) and U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) instead of on each other? These are just some of the "what if" questions that will be examined after November, especially if Republicans fail to gain a congressional seat.

A UNH poll contains good news for U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord) but show trouble for U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester).

According to The Granite State Poll, Shea-Porter is losing to former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) 46 percent to 40 percent. However, the same poll has Shea-Porter beating Bradley's primary rival, former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen 42 percent to 36 percent.

Politico.com has a new report on the five democratic incumbents they see as most likely to lose their seats and New Hampshire’s Carol Shea-Porter is on the list. 

Shea-Porter was perhaps the longest of long-shot Democratic winners in 2006, knocking off the Republican incumbent, Jeb Bradley, even though she spent hardly any money and ran a one-note campaign focused on her opposition to the Iraq war. Now with the economy and gas prices dominating the political discourse, her challenge is to become a more well-rounded candidate.

NEW CASTLE-Former U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester) had a heated exchange on federal funding for veteran programs at a Republican forum.

Bradley said Stephen supported a federal budget plan that would have cut veterans programs, Stephen countered that the budget blueprint would not have cut programs.

Hours before their second debate, congressional candidates Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro) and John Stephen (R-Manchester) announced endorsements for their respective campaigns.

Bradley released a group of 50 people who will comprise his Public Safety Coalition, while Stephen said his campaign has been endorsed by the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition.