Andy Martin: Birther Announces Candidacy For President

Republican Andy Martin, the self described father of the birther movement, formally announced his candidacy for president in New Hampshire on Wednesday during a
live interview with conservative radio talk show host Brian Tilton. The move makes Martin the first presidential candidate from either major party to announce his candidacy.

You can listen to audio of Martin's announcement online, courtesy of  WTPL 107.7 FM:

Part one

Part two

This isn't the first time that Martin has run for federal office. He was one of six U.S. Senate candidates who competed in Illinois' 2010 Republican primary election. Martin only received 5% of the vote in that race. The winner, Mark Kirk, went on to capture the seat once held by President Barack Obama in a symbolic victory for Republicans.

Martin has also launched a new campaign website:

www.andymartinforpresident.com/

Mike Pence for President 2012?

Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.) is said to be mulling over the idea of running for president in 2012. He plans to announce his decision in January, according to Politico. Pence would face an uphill battle if he does decides to run.

For one thing, history is not on his side. Only one sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives had been elected president, according to Wikipedia. Others have managed to make a splash within their own parties. Ron Paul's (R-TX) rankled the Republican establishment during his 2008 run for president. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) heckled John Kerry all the way to the Democratic National Convention in Boston in 2004. In all likelihood, neither expected to win. Instead, each used the primary process to build a nationwide network of supporters and donors. Maybe that's why Kucinich likes to call himself "America's Congressman".

Whether or not Pence could duplicate that kind of success remains open to debate. If he does run, expect his campaign message to focused on fiscal conservancy. After all, this is they same guy who wants to create a Spending Limit Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.



Photo of Representative Mike Pence from his official congressional website

Poll: Obama leads Hillary Clinton in 2012 Matchup

A new poll by Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies shows President Barack Obama enjoying a significant lead over his 2008 rival Hillary Clinton among voters likely to participate in the 2012 New Hampshire presidential primary election. Obama leads Clinton in the hypothetical matchup by a margin of 58-28 percent. The poll also showed Obama beating Howard Dean 78-10 percent and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) 79-8 percent.

Hillary Clinton is currently serving as President Obama's Secretary of State and has told reporters that she will not run for president in 2012 or 2016, according to CBS News. Dean recently made similar comments on Meet the Press, saying he does not expect President Obama to face a primary challenge.

Mike Pence's Tax Cut Revolt - Video

Representative Mike Pence(R-IN) is joining other House Republicans in launching a mini-revolt against the GOP party line on the tax cut deal passed by the U.S. Senate yesterday. Pence, who may run for president in 2012, says he will vote against the tax cut deal. A recent Pew poll showed strong bipartisan support for the compromise among voters. So what's the deal here?

Pence explains his opposition to the tax cut deal negotiated by President Obama and the Republican leadership in a new video:

First Presidential Primary Debate Set For June 13, 2011

Update:


The first New Hampshire presidential debate of the 2012 election cycle will now air live on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 8:00 PM on CNN. 

Republicans competing in New Hampshire's first in the nation presidential primary will face off at a debate in Manchester on June 7, 2011. WMUR-TV broke the news this morning. The local ABC affiliate will co-host the debate with CNN and The Union Leader.

Due to its early scheduling, the event should mark the first time that the Republican candidates for president meet to debate in New Hampshire. Politico and NBC News hope to host the first Republican debate of the 2012 presidential primary season at the Ronald Reagan Library in California next spring. 

With twelve or more Republicans considering a run for president in 2012, WMUR and friends better have a pretty big state lined up!

Gary Johnson for POTUSA in 2012?

If were lucky enough to be a kid during the 1990's era, you probably remember a band called Presidents of the United States of America or "POTUSA" for short. Aside from having a name that constituted a drug reference when abbreviated, the band is best known for its hit songs "Lump", "Kitty", and "Peaches". Now, a high profile "pot usa" is considering running to become the real President of the United States of America! Meet Gary Johnson.

The former Republican governor of New Mexico admitted to smoking marijuana for medical purposes from 2005 to 2008 during an interview with the Weekly Standard. At the time pot was illegal in New Mexico, but Johnson said the drug provided relief from pain caused by multiple bone fractures sustained during a paragliding accident in Hawaii. He's also been known to quip that he "did not exhale" in his younger days.

Johnson has been testing the waters for a possible presidential run for some time now. He visited New Hampshire several times in 2010, a state where lawmakers came close to legalizing medical marijuana, but were unable to overcome a veto by Governor John Lynch. As an advocate for legalizing marijuana, Johnson may be able to tap into the state's network of pot activists. But will the pot heads remember to vote on election day?

You can learn more about Johnson and his libertarian style of politics by visiting the website of his nonprofit, Our America - The Gary Johnson Initiative. More importantly, The Presidents of the United States of America are alive and still touring! Check out their website!

Picture of Gary "I did not exhale" Johnson by Steve Terrell

Granite Oath PAC House Party With Rick Santorum

Ovide Lamontagne's Granite Oath PAC will kick off 2011 by hosting a house party featuring former Senator and 2012 presidential hopeful Rick Santorum in early January. Santorum has been putting in some serious ground time in New Hampshire of late, visiting the state a total of seven times in 2010. He is openly considering a run for president in 2012.

Lamontagne will host the house party at his own home on January 11th. He told The Union Leader that his new PAC will be hosting similar events featuring some of Santorum's potential rivals for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. In other words, he won't be endorsing Santorum's any time soon.

Ovide Lamontagne's PAC will endorse presidential candidate in 2012

In September, Ovide Lamontagne made nationwide headlines when he came close to beating Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire's 2010 Republican Senate primary. Now Lamontagne has a new PAC called the Granite Oath. The Union Leader reports that Lamontagne will put his newfound clout to work in 2012 by endorsing one of the Republican candidates running in the state's first in the nation primary.

Lamontage received 51,397 votes to Ayottes 53,056, according to records maintained by the Secretary of State. That's an impressive for a candidate who raised a total of $678,184 in a race that saw rivals raising and spending millions. Still, Lamontagne's low fundraising numbers suggest that the new PAC's primary strength may lie in its grassroots organizing ability.

So far, there doesn't seem to be much infrastructure behind Granite Oath PAC, aside from a Twitter account dubbed @graniteoathpac. Still, Lamontagne maintains a pretty solid network on the social media front. He has 2,050 followers on Facebook and 1,010 on Twitter.

Lamontage backed Mitt Romney in the 2008 New Hampshire Primary, according to the Union Leader.

2012 Missouri poll bad news for Palin

Public Policy Polling has released a new poll examining the key 2012 battleground state of .... Missouri? John McCain won the state in 2008 by less than 1 percent of the vote, leading pollsters to think that the Show Me State is worth a closer look in 2012.

The new poll asked voters to choose between President Barack Obama and several of the Republicans who may run for president in 2012. It turns out that Sarah Palin is currently the only potential GOP candidate named in the poll who would lose Missouri's 11 electoral votes to Obama if the election were held today:

Mike Huckabee 49% Barack Obama 42%

Mitt Romney 47% Barack Obama 41%

New Gingrich 45% Barack Obama 44%

Barack Obama 46% Sarah Palin 43%

Given that McCain won Missouri in 2008, a decidedly Democratic year, is shouldn't be too surprising to see most of the Republicans leading Obama in the survey. What is surprising, and maybe shouldn't be, is Palin's inability to generate the same level support as the other major contenders for the GOP nomination.

What impact will the new poll have on the 2012 New Hampshire Primary? Probably very little. The consensus among most pundits is that Palin should skip New Hampshire altogether and focus on the most conservative of the early voting states, namely Iowa. So far, Palin appears to be to be heeding this sound piece of advice. The closest she's come to stepping foot in the Granite State since 2008 is a Facebook endorsement of Kelly Ayotte's successful campaign for U.S. Senate posted back in July of this year.





In this picture by Ryan McFarland, Sarah Palin demonstrates one attribute key to winning the New Hampshire Primary: Owning a winter coat.

P.S. In the process of writing this post, I learned that Missouri has three nicknames: The Show Me State, The Cave State, and The Lead State. Amazing!

Rick Santorum: Repeal Obamacare

Yesterday, former Senator Rick Santorum journeyed to New Hampshire for the seventh time this year. During the visit, Santorum told audiences in Goffstown and Manchester that Republicans need to win back the White House in order to repeal Obamacare.

"First get rid of Obamacare," Santorum was quoted as saying by the The Morning Call.

"Repeal it. There is nothing, nothing there that is worth saving, in my opinion."

That apparently includes popular provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aimed at protecting patients with pre-existing conditions and allowing youth to receive coverage under parents' insurance plans up to the age of 26.

Santorum is currently considering making a run for president in 2012. His latest visit was also covered by The Union Leader and The Boston Globe.

John Bolton may run for president in 2012

Republican John Bolton is now openly considering a run for president in 2012, according to CNN. Bolton served as President George W. Bush's appointed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006, but was never confirmed to the position by the U.S. Senate. He is best known for his hawkish views on foreign policy. If he does run, expect foreign policy to be a central focus of his campaign.

Bolton currently works as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and as a Fox News contributor. He is also the author of the follow books:


  

Schedule for Rick Santorum's NH Visit 11/29/2010

Rick Santorum will travel to New Hampshire on November 29, 2010 to speak at a free event hosted by the Goffstown-Weare Republican Committee. It's Santorum's second trip to the Granite State this month. Here is the complete event description, as posted on the NH GOP website:

Dessert and coffee w/ Rick Santorum

11/29/2010

7:00 PM

The Goffstown-Weare Republican Town Committee is pleased to announce the Honorable Rick Santorum as the guest speaker for our meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 29th. Please join us for dessert and coffee and meet Mr. Santorum who is a former U.S. Senator of Pennsylvania and a potential presidential candidate. This is a free event. A short business meeting will be held prior to Mr. Santorum’s speech. Dessert and coffee served. Republicans and right-leaning undeclared voters welcome.

Address

Goffstown Parks & Recreation Building

155 Mast Road

Goffstown, NH 03045

Contact

Pam Manney

info@goffstown-weare-gop.org

603.235.0570

ShouldTrumpRun.com

A new website aimed at recruiting Donald Trump to run for president in 2012 is asking voters to answer the question "Should Trump Donald Trump Run For President?" So far, more than 1,000 people have taken the site's online survey. More than 80 percent say Trump should enter the 2012 presidential race and 78 percent say they'd vote for the billionaire and reality TV star.

Earlier today, Trump was interviewed by George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America. He said that he was seriously considering making a run for the White House and would announce his final decision by June of 2011.

New Gallup 2012 Poll: No front-runner among Republican presidential hopefuls

A new nationwide Gallup poll of Republican voters shows Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Huckabee leading the pack of 14 potential candidate's for the party's 2012 presidential nomination. Here is a quick summary of the results;

Mitt Romney 19%

Sarah Palin 16%

Mike Huckabee 16%

Newt Gingrich 13%

Ron Paul 6%

The rest of the pack came in at below 5%: Tim Pawlenty, Haley Barbour, John Thune, Mike Pence, Rick Santorum, Mitch Daniels, Gary Johnson, and Chris Christy.

Perhaps most telling is the fact that a total of 16 percent of those surveyed opted to answer "other" or "none/no opinion". The early stages of the race may underway already, but most voters aren't tuned in just yet.

George Pataki may run for president in 2012 - Video

He served as New York's governor for three terms and now he's taking aim at the White House. Republican George Pataki says he's considering a run for President in 2012, joining the already swelling ranks of potential GOP presidential candidates. He also poked fun at Sarah Palin, joking that his experience as the Mayor of the small town of Peeksill made him him more qualified for the job than the one-time Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

Sarah Palin responds to 2012 question - Video

Are you going to run for President? Sarah Palin fielded that question during an October 2010 interview with Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart. Her response was classic Palin. "I haven't made up my mind yet," she told Hart, adding the decision would entail a lengthy discussion with her family. Does this mean that the topic hasn't come around the dinner table yet?

"... if there is nobody else to do it then of course I would believe that we should do this," Palin went on to say. Well Sarah, there are plenty of people willing to "do this". More than ten Republicans are mulling over a run for the White House in 2012, according to some analysts. Does that mean that 2012 will be Palin-free? You'll have to break out the secret decoder ring to answer that question. Try as I might, I just can't decipher Palin-speak.

Judd Gregg For President 2012?

James Pindell of WMUR's Political Scoop has published a new list ranking the Republicans who might run in the 2012 New Hampshire presidential primary. Among them is our very own Judd Gregg. Gregg's decision to give up his seat in the U.S. Senate has prompted speculation that he might be planning a run for the White House. Will he run?

It is worth noting that Gregg's announced his retirement in the early months of 2009. At the time, Gregg was the only New Hampshire Republican left in Washington. The GOP had lost control of both of the state's House seats in 2006 and one Senate seat in 2010. It would have been hard for Gregg to predict that the blue wave that came crashing over the Granite State in 2006 and 2008 would come rolling back so quickly. If he'd had a crystal ball, he might have run again.

Gregg leapt into the national spotlight in April of 2009 when he was nominated to serve as President Obama's Secretary of Commerce. He initially accepted the nomination, then pulled a hasty about face at a highly publicized press conference. Some considered the move to be a sure sign that Gregg had higher ambitions than Commerce Secretary and might even challenge Obama for the presidency in 2012. Others called the move tactless and bizarre. Either way, if Gregg does run he's sure to face some tough questions about the incident on the campaign trail. If you listen hard enough, one can almost here the chants of "Flip flop!" already....

Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin: Early Republican Frontrunners For 2012 Nomination

A series of polls released by Public Policy Polling (PPP) have Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin looking like early frontrunners in race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Here's how the race is shaping up in in a number of key states:

Mitt Romney is ranked #1 in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, and New Hampshire

Sarah Palin has the lead in Maine, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Mike Huckabee is the favorite in Illinois and Pennsylvania

Tim Pawlenty enjoys a narrow lead in his home state of Minnesota

With most of the leading candidates yet to make it official, these polls provide a valuable reference point for maybe-runs like Sarah Palin.

Mike Huckabee and the 2012 New Hampshire Primary

A new CNN poll released two days after the 2010 mid-term elections shows Mike Huckabee leading the pack of potential GOP presidential candidates for 2012. So how would Huckabee fare in New Hampshire's first in the nation primary?

Huckabee handily won the Iowa Caucuses in 2008, but then came in a distant third place in New Hampshire. It wasn't even close. Official election results show that John McCain racked up more than 88,000 votes. Mitt Romney got over 75,000. Only around 26,000 voters cast ballots for Huckabee.

It may be the Huckabee never saw his victory in the Iowa caucus coming and lacked the resources to mount the kind of long term grassroots campaign needed to be successful in New Hampshire. Or it could be that Granite State voters simply prefer moderate candidates like McCain, who won here in both of the last two competitive GOP primaries. Either way, Republican voters will have to choose a different candidate this time around, because McCain's not running.

Rick Santorum attends Politics and Eggs in New Hampshire

Rick Santorum visited New Hampshire today to headline "Politics and Eggs", according to CNN. The trip comes just days after Republicans scored major victories in the Granite State in the 2010 mid-term elections.

The New Hampshire Political Library and New England Council describe the "Eggs and Politics" series as a "must-stop" for any presidential candidate. Santorum has been making a lot of "must-stop" visits to New Hampshire lately, visiting the state a total of six times this year. If Santorum does decide to run for president in 2012, we'll be seeing a lot more of him in the Granite State.

Haley Barbour campaigns with John Stephen Video

Mississippi's Republican Governor Haley Barbour has made at least two trips to New Hampshire to campaign alongside GOP gubernatorial candidate John Steven. Barbour may have another reason for traveling to the Granite State. He may be considering a run for president in 2012.

NH Watchdog captured the following videos of a speech Barbour delivered in September of 2010:

Poll: Dems split over handing Obama '12 nomination

Haley Barber, Bob McDonnell Rally With John Stephen 10/28/2010

Mitt Romney won't be the only potential 2012 presidential candidate to visit New Hampshire this week. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will attend a rally for John Stephen for Governor on Thursday - October 28, 2010. That's one day before Romney's latest trip to Granite State, where he will also campaign on behalf of Stephen. Looks like the battle to lock down key 2012 endorsements in already underway!

Here are the details for Thursday's Rally, as posted on the Republican Party of New Hampshire website:

John Stephen for Governor Rally with Haley Barbour and Bob McDonnell:

10/28/2010

1:00pm

The Republican Governor's Association "Remember November Tour" Comes to New Hampshire! Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour & Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will join us for a Get Out The Vote RALLY! John Stephen for Governor This is a FREE Event! ALL GOP CAMPAIGNS are Encouraged to Participate! Sign Distribution-Poll Workers Sign Up Let's Coordinate for Election Day!

Address

Derryfield Country Club Restaurant

625 Mammoth Road

Manchester, NH

Contact

Stephen Team

Rally@johnstephen.com

634-4372

Schedule for Mitt Romney John Stephen rally 10/29/2010

Mitt Romney will be back in New Hampshire for a rally with GOP gubernatorial candidate John Stephen this Friday - October 29, 2010. It's the fourth time he has visited the Granite State since August. The visits are just another sign that Romney is laying the groundwork for a second White House run in 2012.

Here are the details the complete event schedule, as posted on the Republican Party of New Hampshire website:

John Stephen for Governor Rally with Mitt Romney:


9:45 am

Governor Mitt Romney join us this week! John Stephen for Governor RALLY UP! This is a FREE Event! RSVP by Phone: (603) 634-4372 Or email: Rally@johnstephen.com Please specify "Salem Rally" in the subject line of your email. This is it folks - we're almost there! Please join us as we head into the home stretch to Victory!

Address

Tuscan Kitchen Restaurant

67 Main Street

Salem, NH

Contact

Stephen Team

Rally@johnstephen.com

634-4372

John McCain won't endorse Sarah Palin... yet

Earlier today, John McCain told CBS News that Sarah Palin would make a great presidential candidate in 2012. He also said that he is not ready to endorse Palin just yet, which makes sense given that his former running mate has yet to even declare her candidacy. The move suggests that John McCain will be active on the campaign trail in New Hampshire in 2012, even though he won't be running for president. McCain's endorsement could give Palin a much needed boost in the Granite State, given that he won key primary contests here in 2000 and 2008.

Video of Barack Obama Deval Patrick Rally in Boston

President Barack Obama and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick rallied with a crowd of around 15,000 supporters on Saturday, October 16, 2010. The president will likely be the only Democrat running in the 2012 primary election.

Watch complete video of Obama's speech below:

Bobby Jindal: Louisiana Governor Will Not Run For President in 2012

Bobby Jindal was in New Hampshire last week to campaign on behalf of John Steven, the Republican candidate for governor. Jindal told reporters that he will not run for president in 2012, according to Fosters Daily Democrat. The announcement came during a campaign stop at Salient Technologies in Portsmouth. 


A number of high profile Republicans have visited New Hampshire to campaign on behalf of GOP candidates running in this year's mid-term elections, including Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. However, Jindal was not alone is using his visit to the Granite State to quash rumors about a possible presidential run in 2012. Earlier this month, Senator John McCain made similar announcement while campaigning of GOP Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte. 

Obama rally in Boston on Saturday October 16, 2010 - Details and schedule

President Barack Obama will be in Boston on Saturday - October 16, 2010. Musician James Taylor is slated to play at the event, which NECN describes as a rally for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Patrick, a Democrat, is a longtime friend and ally of Obama. 

Where: John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, located at 900 Boylston Street in Boston, MA. 

When: Doors open at 12:00 PM on Saturday - October 16, 2010. Plan to arrive several hours ahead of time and expect a long wait. 

The event is open to the public. Click here to RSVP

Obama will return to New England for a visit to Rhode Island, where he will campaign on behalf of Democratic Congressional candidate David Cicilline. No word yet on whether Obama plans to visit New Hampshire before Election Day. 

A Deval win would help to reaffirming Obama's standing in the Bay State. The President campaigned for Democrat Martha Coakley here shortly before surprising defeat by Republican Scott Brown. The results of that election led many to question Obama's ability to motivate the same base of supporters that helped him win in 2008.

Schedule for Bobby Jindal's New Hampshire Visit on October 14, 2010

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will visit New Hampshire next Thursday - October 14, 2010. Jindal is viewed by many as potential 2012 presidential candidate. Jindal's political ambitions suffered a serious blow after he botched his much anticipated response to President Obama's State of the Union Address back in 2009. Since then, Jindal's strong response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has won him fans on both sides of the aisle.

While in the Granite State, Jindal will attend two fundraising events for GOP gubernatorial candidate John Stephen:

3:00 PM - Private Reception, Cost: $500 per person

3:30 PM to 4:30 PM - Reception with Governor Jindal, Cost: $250 per person

Location: Both events will be held at the 100 Club, located at 100 Market St, Suite 500 in Portsmouth, NH.

Register and pre-pay online:

John Stephen for Governor | Reception in Portsmouth with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal | Fundraisers

Is Donald Trump Running for President in 2012?

A mysterious poll in New Hampshire is renewing speculation that Donald Trump may one day run for president. Voters here have reported participating in a poll asking questions about Trump and the 2012 election, according to CNN. Trump says he knows nothing about the poll and has not considered running for the White House in 2012.

John McCain Kelly Ayotte Climate Change Video Featured on Grist.org

A video I recorded of John McCain and Kelly Ayotte discussing climate change and energy policy at a March 2010 campaign rally in Nashua, NH has been featured in a article on Grist.org. The piece is also posted on the Wonk Room. The article analyzes McCain's shift from a moderate position on climate change to a "climate conspiracy theorist".

Here is the original video:

Video of John McCain Campaigning for Kelly Ayotte

John McCain was in New Hampshire yesterday to campaign on behalf of Kelly Ayotte. During the visit, McCain said he would not run for president again in 2012.



Video of John McCain's speech in New Hampshire on October 2, 2010.

Mitt Romney Releases Video From Trip To New Hampshire

Free Strong America PAC has released a video containing footage from Mitt Romney's September 11, 2010 trip to New Hampshire. Romney addressed the Seacoast Republican Women's Chili Fest in the GOP stronghold of Stratham. The video is classic New Hampshire presidential primary politics, featuring Romney talking about American values in  a New Englandy back yard setting.

What I notice watching the video is that what I like to call the "angry-faced" Mitt Romney from 2008 is gone. I always thought that voters had trouble connecting to Romney because he was too negative all the time, especially when compared to the smiling face of Mike Huckabee. You could hate Huckabee's policies, but still want to grab a beer or jam out with him. Now, there's something new in Romney's voice, call me crazy but it almost sounds like compassion. We'll see how long this new persona lasts.

Schedule for John McCain's Visit to New Hampshire October 2, 2010

Senator John McCain will be joining GOP Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte at two campaign events in New Hampshire this Saturday. The Ayotte campaign has emailed the following schedule to  supporters:

Saturday, October 2nd Veterans Rally: Time: 10:00 – 11:00 AM Location: VFW Post 483 2 Quincy Street Nashua, NH *Doors will open at 9:00 AM.    Seacoast BBQ Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM Location: Hampton Airfield 9 Lafayette Rd # A North Hampton, NH Please RSVP by Friday, October 1st to RSVP@AyotteforSenate.com Additional Information: For questions, please call 232-1162. We welcome you to invite friends and family to these exciting events.

John McCain Kelly Ayotte 2010 Videos

Is John McCain planning another run for president in 2012? That's a question you may be hearing a lot over the next few days, as McCain prepares to makes his second trip to the Granite State this year to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte. The duo will make appearances in Nashua and North Hampton this weekend.

Picture of Kelly Ayotte and John McCain in Nashua in March of 2010. 

Back in March, McCain officially endorsed Ayotte at a town hall style meeting in Nashua. I attended that event and recorded the following videos. McCain was clearly thrilled to be back on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, a sign that he may be eager to jump back on board the Straight Talk Express. He may even be eying Ayotte as a potential running mate. Such a move would surely irritate Sarah Palin, who also endorsed Ayotte's campaign.

Video of John McCain endorsing Kelly Ayotte in March of 2010.



Video of John McCain and Kelly Ayotte discussing health care in March of 2010.



Video of John McCain and Kelly Ayotte fielding a question about global warming in March of 2010.



Video of Kelly Ayotte and John McCain talking about the economy in March of 2010.



Video of Kelly Ayotte and John McCain taking a hard line on military tribunals for terrorism suspects in March of 2010.



Video of John McCain and Kelly Ayotte answering a question about student loans and education in March of 2010. 

Tim Pawlenty Buys New Friends in New Hampshire

If you are a famous politician who is planning to run for president in 2012, why not use your star power to raise money and make new friends in New Hampshire? That's what Tim Pawlenty is doing.

Tickets to an 8:00 AM breakfast with Pawlenty at the Villa Blanca Restaurant in Nashua cost $75. If you have any money left after the tip, head over to the Nickerson House in Windham for a reception with T-Paw - recommended donation $1,000.

Last week, Pawlenty's Freedom First PAC endorsed more than 40 Republican candidates in New Hampshire. Each one took home a little petty cash as a prize. Among them are some of the most recognizable names in the New Hampshire Republican Party.


Receiving $5,000:

John Stephen - Candidate for Governor, ran for congress in 2006

Kelly Ayotte - U.S. Senate Candidate, former Attorney General of the State of New Hampshire

Frank Guinta - 1st Congressional District Candidate, former mayor of Manchester

Charlie Bass - 2nd Congressional District Candidate, former Congressman

Receiving $250:

Jeb Bradley - State Rep, former Congressman

Don't worry though, Pawlenty isn't just trying to earn brownie points at the top of the political ladder. He's aiming at the grassroots too, endorsing a total of seven candidates for sheriff in the Granite State and donating $250 to each of their campaigns.

Tim Pawlenty doing his best "commander in chief" act. 

The flannel will play well in New Hampshire!

Governor Haley Barbour campaigns in New Hampshire

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour visited New Hampshire today to campaign on behalf of Republican gubernatorial candidate John Stephen. The Nashua Telegraph describes Barbour as a potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate. As the head of the Republican Governors Association, Barbour's influence certainly goes far beyond the borders of the backwater state he governs. Still, he is not very well known here in the Granite State.

Barbour told reporters that he is working on an independent expenditure campaign designed to help Stephens beat incumbent Governor John Lynch in November. His trip to New Hampshire and fundraising efforts on behalf of Stephens may signal that Barbour is already laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2012. However, Barbour told reporters that he hasn't made any decisions about running for president and probably won't until after the 2010 election season is over.

The Lynch campaign issued a press release suggesting that Barbour's record as governor of Mississippi probably won't appeal to many voters in the Granite State. Under Barbour, the high school drop rate in Mississippi has increased by 16.9 percent took office and the state's economy has continued to stagnate, boasting the lowest per capita income in the nation.

Haley Barbour. He looks kind of like a cross between Bill Clinton and William Shatner, but is not quite as well known and much less funny.