New Hampshire Primary Endorsements

Endorsements

With Republicans dominating top elected offices in the state (governor, all five executive councillors, and the four-person congressional delegation), Democratic presidential candidates are competing for the endorsements of six Democratic state senators, over 100 Democratic state representatives, as well as mayors, local officials, and members of the party's state committee.

T H E B I G P I C T U R E

E L E C T E D O F F I C I A L S

Executive
Governor Craig Benson (R)
Executive Council
First District--Raymond S. Burton (R)
Second District--Peter J. Spaulding (R)
Third District--Ruth L. Griffin (R)
Fourth District--Raymond J. Wieczorek (R)
Fifth District--David K. Wheeler (R)

Legislature
House: 400 Members--117 D or D&R as of 1/1/03. list
Senate: 24 Members--18 R, 6 D as of 1/1/03.

Federal
U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg (R)
U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R)
U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-1st District)
U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass (R-2nd District)

County by County
Belknap
Carroll
Cheshire
Coos
Grafton
Hillsborough
Merrimack
Strafford
Sullivan
Rockingham

Updated through Jan. 25, 2004

Endorsements by State Legislators

Wesley Clark
Rep. Christine Hamm - Hopkinton
Rep. Marjorie Smith - Durham 12/19/03

Howard Dean (44 State Reps.)

CHESHIRE
Rep. Peter Allen - Harrisville   4/4/03
Rep. Tim Dunn - Keene   4/4/03
Rep. Peter Espiefs - Keene   4/4/03
Rep. David Meader - Keene 10/1/03
Rep. McKim Mitchell - Chesterfield   4/4/03
Rep. Barbara Richardson - Richmond   6/6/03
Rep. Tim Robertson - Keene   4/4/03
Rep. Jack Pratt - Walpole (formerly Gephardt)   4/4/03
Rep. Anna Tilton - Marlborough   4/4/03
Rep. Amy Webber - Dublin     6/6/03
Rep. Chuck Weed - Keene    7/23/03
GRAFTON
Rep. Ned Densmore - Franconia   4/4/03
Rep. Estelle Diamond - Hanover    6/6/03
Rep. Hilda Sokol - Hanover    6/6/03
Rep. Peter Solomon - Canaan    7/22/03
HILLSBOROUGH
Rep. Lionel Johnson - Manchester 6/6/03
Rep. Claudette Jean - Nashua 10/1/03
Rep. Mary Ellen Martin - Nashua   12/21/03
Rep. Steve Michon - Nashua   12/21/03
Rep. Anne-Marie Irwin - Peterborough   11/13/03
MERRIMACK
Rep. Candace C. W. Bouchard - Concord   6/6/03
Rep. Derek Owen - Hopkinton 8/29/03
Rep. Donald Brueggemann - Concord 12/05/03
Rep. Fran Potter - Concord   4/4/03
Rep. Gloria Seldin - Concord   4/4/03
Rep. Mary Stuart Gile - Concord   4/4/03
Rep. Jessie Osborne - Concord 10/29/03
Rep. Mary Jane Wallner - Concord   4/4/03
ROCKINGHAM
Rep. Jane Kelley (R) - Hampton    6/6/03
Rep. Terie Norelli - Portsmouth 12/8/03
Rep. Betsy Shultis - Portsmouth   4/4/03
Rep. Jim Splaine - Portsmouth   1/24/04
STRAFFORD
Rep. Anne Grassie - Rochester    7/23/03
Rep. Nancy Johnson - Milton   6/6/03
Rep. Joseph Miller - Durham   4/4/03
Rep. Arthur Pelletier - Dover   6/6/03
Rep. Peter Schmidt - Dover 10/15/03
Rep. Clair Snyder - Somersworth   6/6/03
Rep. Judith Spang - Durham 1/2/04
Rep. Dennis Vachon - Northwood 8/29/03
SULLIVAN
Rep. Brenda Ferland - Charlestown   8/6/03
Rep. Sandy Harris - Claremont 8/29/03
Rep. Joe Harris - Claremont 8/29/03
Rep. Jay Phinizy - Acworth   4/4/03
former
Rep. Ruth Bleyler - Lyme   6/6/03 switched to Kerry 10/23/03

John Edwards (2 State Sens. and 3 State Reps.) + 5 former Gephardt

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro - Manchester (Dist. 20)    10/30/03HILLSBOROUGH
Sen. Joe Foster - Nashua (Dist. 13)   1/21/03 HILLSBOROUGH
GRAFTON
Rep. Sharon Nordgren - Hanover   4/24/03
MERRIMACK
Rep. Steve DeStefano - Bow    9/15/03
STRAFFORD
Rep. Frank Callaghan - Rochester   9/15/03

former Gephardt (backed until he withdrew on 1/20/04)
Rep. Peter Burling - Corning 1/20/04
Rep. Jim Craig - Manchester 1/22/04
Rep. Robert Theberge - Berlin 1/22/04
Rep. Ed Mears - Berlin 1/22/04
Rep. Jackie Pitts - Portsmouth 1/22/04

Richard A. Gephardt (28 State Reps.) withdrew on Jan. 20, 2004

CHESHIRE
Rep. Irene Pratt - Winchester 7/23/03
COOS
Rep. Ed Mears - Berlin 2/26/03
Rep. Robert Theberge - Berlin 2/26/03
GRAFTON
Rep. Nancy Scovner - Enfield 2/26/03
HILLSBOROUGH
Rep. Ben Baroody - Manchester 10/24/03
Rep. Jim Craig - Manchester 4/10/03
Rep. Robert Haley - Manchester 3/12/03
Rep. Eric Palangas - Manchester 4/10/03
Rep. Alice McDonough Wallace - Manchester    3/12/03
Rep. Barbara Shaw - Manchester 5/15/03
Rep. Peter Cote - Nashua     2/26/03
Rep. Mary Gorman - Nashua 5/15/03
Rep. Angie Kopka - Nashua      2/26/03
Rep. Debra Kudalis - Nashua 3/12/03
Rep. Roland Lefebvre - Nashua 3/12/03
Rep. Cynthia Sweeney - Nashua 5/15/03
Rep. Chris Malloy - Pelham
MERRIMACK
Rep. Frank Davis - Pembroke 5/15/03
Rep. John DeJoie - Concord     2/26/03
Rep. Tara Reardon - Concord    2/26/03
Rep. Deanna Rush - Pembroke 5/15/03
ROCKINGHAM
Rep. Mary Ann Blanchard - Portsmouth 7/23/03
Rep. Bob Davidson - Newmarket    2/26/03
Rep. Paul McEachern - Portsmouth    2/26/03
Rep. Laura Pantelakos - Portsmouth   2/26/03
Rep. Jacqueline Pitts - Portsmouth   3/12/03
SULLIVAN
Rep. David Allison - Claremont 5/15/03
Rep. Peter Burling - Corning 6/25/03

former
Rep. Jack Pratt - Walpole 2/26/03 but withdrew support in letter of March 31.
Rep. Bob Batchelder - Marlow 2/26/03 resigned effective July 21 to move to a retirement community in Connecticut.

Joe Lieberman (13 State Reps.) + 1 former Gephardt

HILLSBOROUGH
Rep. Raymond Buckley - Manchester 3/13/03
Rep. Tom Katsiantonis - Manchester
Rep. Chris Pappas - Manchester 4/8/03
Rep. Maurice Pilotte - Manchester 6/5/03
Rep. Frank Sullivan - Manchester
Rep. Peter Sullivan - Manchester
Rep. Bette Lasky - Nashua
Rep. Lori Movsesian - Nashua
ROCKINGHAM
Rep. Corey Corbin - Sandown 6/17/03
Rep. Matt Vallone - Epping 4/8/03
STRAFFORD
Rep. Deanna Rollo - Rollinsford 5/10/03
Rep. Kathy Taylor - Dover 5/10/03
Rep. Kati Taylor - Dover 5/10/03
former Gephardt (backed until he withdrew on 1/20/04)
Rep. Alice McDonough Wallace - Manchester

former
Rep. Chris Konys - Nashua resigned effective July 10, moved to Mass.

John Kerry (4 State Sens. and 17 State Reps.) + 9 former Gephardt

Sen. Sylvia Larsen - Concord (Dist. 15)        MERRIMACK
Sen. Burt Cohen - New Castle (Dist. 24)          ROCKINGHAM
Sen. Clifton Below - Lebanon (Dist. 5)   2/26/03        GRAFTON
Sen. Iris Estabrook - Durham (Dist. 21) 10/7/03           STRAFFORD
COOS
Rep. Dick Poulin - Berlin 9/11/03
GRAFTON
Rep. Susan Almy - Lebanon
Rep. Ruth Bleyler - Lyme 10/23/03 formerly backed Dean (6/6/03)
Rep. Bernie Benn - Hanover 11/17/03
MERRIMACK
Rep. Barbara French - Henniker 9/11/03
Rep. Randy Perkins - Franklin
HILLSBOROUGH
Rep. Bill Clayton - Manchester 1/13/04
Rep. Jane Clemons - Nashua
Rep. David Cote - Nashua
ROCKINGHAM
Rep. Kim Casey - East Kingston 12/2/03
STRAFFORD
Rep. Roger Berube - Somersworth 9/11/03
Rep. Irene Creteau - Rochester 9/11/03
Rep. Naida Kaen - Lee >
Rep. Bill Knowles - Dover 9/11/03
Rep. Emma Rous - Durham   12/22/03
SULLIVAN
Rep. Thomas E. Donovan - Claremont
need to confirm
Rep. Roland Hofemann - Dover
former Gephardt (backed until he withdrew on 1/20/04)
Rep. Nancy Scovner - Enfield
Rep. John DeJoie - Concord
Rep. Deanna Rush - Pembroke
Rep. Debra Kudalis - Nashua
Rep. Roland Lefebvre - Nashua
Rep. Ben Baroody - Manchester
Rep. Eric Palangas - Manchester
Rep. Mary Ann Blanchard - Portsmouth
Rep. Paul McEachern - Portsmouth
former
Rep. Judith Spang - Durhamswitched to Dean announced 1/2/03

Endorsements by County Chairs
Belknap - Beth Arsenault    DEAN (October 21, 2003)
Carroll - Dorothy Solomon of Albany
Cheshire - Rep. McKim Mitchell of Chesterfield    DEAN
Coos - Paul Robitaille of Gorham    KERRY (July 10, 2003)
Grafton - Arnold Shields of Piermont
Hillsborough - Donna Soucy of Manchester    LIEBERMAN (March 27, 2003)
Merrimack - Bill Stetson of Concord    DEAN (December 17, 2003)
Strafford - Carole Appel of Dover    KERRY (June 20, 2003)
Sullivan - Rep. John Cloutier of Claremont
Rockingham - Deb Crapo of Rye    GEPHARDT

Endorsements by Newspapers
Clark
Exeter News-Letter (01/16/04)
...Seacoast Newspapers - a subsidiary of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., a Dow Jones Company.
Connecticut Valley Spectator (01/22/04)
...weekly, West Lebanon, NH.
Conway Daily Sun (01/23/04)
...Country Club News, Inc.

Dean
Keene Sentinel (01/18/04)
The principal publication of The Keene Publishing Corporation; founded in 1799.
Salmon Press newspapers (01/21/04):Berlin Reporter - Granite State News (Wolfeboro) - Littleton Courier - Telegram (Franklin) - Coos County Democrat (Lancaster) - Carroll County Independent (Ossippee) - Record Enterprise (Plymouth) - Meredith News
Edwards
Berlin Reporter (01/21/04)
Circulation - "somewhere under 4,500" ...Salmon Press.
The Dartmouth (01/26/04)
Kerry
Portsmouth Herald (01/23/04)
...Seacoast Newspapers - a subsidiary of Ottaway Newspapers Inc., a Dow Jones Company.
Concord Monitor (01/18/04)
Nashua Telegraph (01/18/04)
Circulation - about 27,000 daily and 32,000 on Sunday ...Independent Publications Inc. of Bryn Mawr, PA.
Valley News (01/22/04)
West Lebanon. Seven-day daily. Circulation 17,000.
The Cabinet Press (01/22/04); four New Hampshire weekly papers - the Milford Cabinet, the Bedford Journal, the Hollis Brookline Journal, and the Merrimack Journal
Combined circulation of 35,000.
Boston Globe (01/22/04)
Boston Herald (01/21/04)
Boston Phoenix (issue date: January 23-29, 2004)
Lieberman
Union Leader (01/20/04)
Manchester. New Hampshire's largest paper. Circulation - Daily 62,000, Sunday 85,000.
Foster's Daily Democrat (01/23/04) and Laconia Citizen (01/23/04)
Eagle-Tribune (01/18/04)
Lawrence, MA.

Do Endorsements Matter?
Whether or not endorsements make any difference on Primary Night is debatable, but they are important in the pre-primary period when developing campaigns strive to build credibility. Campaigns go to considerable effort to round up endorsements. The first targets are prominent party leaders including elected officials, former officials, erstwhile candidates, and party activists. New Hampshire, with a 400-member House of Representatives (the fourth largest legislative body in the English-speaking world), presents a wealth of opportunities. In addition, campaigns seek support of community activists and business and civic leaders; Democratic candidates also woo labor support. Finally, newspaper endorsements are highly prized.

The timing and format of endorsement announcements can be significant. A mass endorsement, with elected officials lined up behind the candidate, can draw significant attention. Alternatively, rolling out a steady stream of endorsements over a period of time can bolster the impression of a growing campaign. Picking up a prominent supporter who had formerly been with another campaign is regarded as a coup, worthy of a press release or press conference.

Those that have endorsements trumpet them; those that don't argue that endorsements really don't matter and that anyhow they are pursuing a grassroots strategy. Texas Gov. George W. Bush, receiving the endorsements of a majority of Iowa's Republican state legislators on September 1, 1999, stated, "These legislators bring credibility, on-the-ground leadership and support to my campaign..." Almost by definition "establishment candidates" are able to rack up endorsements from large numbers of elected officials. For others in the field, even a few elected official endorsements can help with credibility.

An endorser may play an active role in the campaign, serving as a surrogate, appearing with the candidate, making calls and rallying up support, or he or she may do nothing more than allow his or her name to be listed on the campaign's leadership team or steering committee.

The process of building support and endorsements among specific groups, such as farmers or educators, is known as coalitions, and is an area of the campaign unto itself.

In sum, endorsements, like fundraising prowess and campaign organization, are an element that contributes to credibility. Ultimately, however, voters' decisions are based on their views of a candidate's experience, ideas and values.

Democratic State Reps. By County

Belknap 0 of 18 Carroll 0 of 14 Cheshire 16 of 24 Dist. 24 Jack Pratt, Walpole Bob Batchelder, Marlow Dan Eaton, Stoddard Dist. 25-Keene Peter Espiefs David Meader Pamela Russell Slack Chuck Weed Timothy Robertson James T. Dunn Dist. 26 Irene Pratt, Winchester Henry Parkhurst, Winchester Barbara Hull Richardson, Richmond McKim W. Mitchell, Chesterfield Dist. 27 Peter Allen, Harrisville Anna Tilton, Marlborough Amy Webber, Dublin Coos 3 of 11 Richard Poulin, Berlin Robert Theberge, Berlin Edgar Mears, Berlin	Merrimack 17 of 44 Dist. 33 Randy Perkins, Franklin Dist. 34 Barbara French, Henniker Christine Hamm, Hopkinton Derek Owen, Hopkinton Dist. 35 Claire Clarke, Boscawen Dist. 36 Frank Davis, Pembroke Deanna Rush, Pembroke Dist. 38 - Concord Mary Stuart Gile Frances Potter Dist. 39 - Concord Candice W. Bouchard John DeJoie Tara Reardon Gloria Seldin Dist. 40 - Concord Donald Brueggemann Jessie Osborne Mary Jan Wallner Dist. 41 Stephen DeStefano, Bow
Grafton 11 of 26 Edward "Ned" Densmore, Bethlehem Mary R. Cooney, Plymouth Bernard L. Benn, Hanover Estelle Diamond, Hanover Sharon L. Nordgren, Hanover Hilda W. Sokol, Hanover Ruth Z. Bleyler, Lyme Nancy M. Scovner, Enfield Peter E. Solomon, Canaan Susan W. Almy, Lebanon Lee M. Hammond, Lebanon	Strafford 19 of 37 Dist. 67 Roger Berube, Somersworth Frank Callaghan, Rochester Irene T. Creteau, Rochester Anne Grassie, Rochester Richard Heon, Somersworth Deanna Rollo, Rollinsford Clair Snyder, Somersworth Dist. 68 Nancy Johnson, Milton Dist. 70 - Dover Wds 1-2 Peter Schmidt Kathy L. Taylor Katie L. Taylor Dist. 71 - Dover Wds 3-4 Arthur Pelletier Dist. 69 - Dover Wds 5-6 Roland Hofemann Dist. 72 Naida Kaen, Lee Joseph Miller, Durham Emma Rous, Durham Marjorie Smith, Durham Judith Spang, Durham Janet Wall, Madbury
Hillsborough - Manchester 15 of 35 Chris Pappas James Craig Paul Brassard Bill Clayton Peter Sullivan "Tommy" Katsiantonis Lionel Johnson Alice Wallace Eric Palangas Frank Sullivan Ben Baroody Robert Haley Raymond Buckley - House Dem. Whip Maurice Pilotte Barbara Shaw - Nashua 13 of 27 Dist. 60 Lori Movsesian Dist. 62 Mary Gorman David Cote Jane Clemons Debra Kudalis Cynthia Sweeney Roland Lefebvre Dist. 63 Nancy Kopka Dist. 65 Peter Cote Claudette Jean Bette Lasky Chris Konys - Deputy Whip Joan Schulze - Other Hillsborough Co. Chris Malloy, Pelham Anne-Marie Irwin, Peterborough	Sullivan 9 of 13 Dist. 19 [1 of 2] Peter H. Burling, Cornish - Minority Leader Dist. 20 [1 of 2] Peter E. Franklin, Newport Dist. 22 [5 of 5] - David C. Allison, Cornish John R. Cloutier, Claremont Thomas E. Donovan, Claremont Joseph D. Harris, Claremont Sandra C. Harris, Claremont Dist. 23 [2 of 2] Brenda L. Ferland, Charlestown James G. Phinizy Rockingham 12 of 87 Dist. 79 Corey Corbin of Sandown¹ Dist. 80 Matt Vallone of Epping Dist. 81 Kim Casey of East Kingston Dist. 82 Betsy Coes of Newfields Bob Davidson of Newmarket Dist. 86 (7 of 7) - Portsmouth Mary Ann Blanchard Paul McEachern Terie Norelli Linda Pantelakos Jackie Pitts Betsy Shultis Jim Splaine
	1. Corbin switched from Republican to Democratic in late May 2003.

Starting in December 2003, look for newspapers to start making endorsements.
Here's how they went in the 2000 New Hampshire primary:

N E W S P A P E R S

Union Leader (Manchester, paid circ. daily 63,438, Sun. 85,414) -- Forbes 12/3/99
The Telegraph (Nashua, paid circ. 28,061, Sun. 33,898) -- Bradley, McCain 1/23/00
Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, paid circ. daily 25,027, Sun. 30,417) -- Bush 1/13/00, Bradley 1/25/00
Concord Monitor (paid circ. daily 21,310, Sun. 23,150) -- McCain 1/23/00, Gore 1/24/00
The Valley News (Lebanon/Hanover, paid circ. daily 17,618, Sun. 17,519) -- Bradley 1/23/00, McCain 1/24/00
The Keene Sentinel (paid circ. daily 14,590, Sun. 13,521) -- McCain 1/25/00, Gore 1/26/00
Portsmouth Herald (paid circ. daily 14,389, Sun. 19,476) -- McCain 1/11/00, Gore 1/14/00 also, under the same ownership, the Hampton Union and the News-Letter (Exeter)
The Citizen (Laconia, paid circ. daily 9,848, Sun. 30,417) -- owned by Foster's and same endorsements (Bush 1/13/00, Bradley 1/25/00)
Eagle-Times (Claremont, paid circ. daily 8,263, Sun. 9,308) -- McCain 1/20/00
The Berlin Reporter (paid circ. Mon.-Sat. around 5,000) -- Bradley, McCain 1/23/00
The Conway Daily Sun (Mount Washington Valley, free Mon.-Sat, circ. 15,000) -- Bradley, McCain 1/31/00
The Caledonian-Record (Northeast Vermont and the North Country of NH) -- Bradley

weeklies
Derry News (published Tues. and Fri. paid circ. just over 10,000) -- Bradley, McCain 1/28/00
The Mountain Ear (Conway, published Thurs., 12,000 issues) -- McCain 1/27/00
Rochester & Dover Times, Granite State News, Carroll County Independent, Meredith News, Plymouth Record Enterprise -- Bradley, McCain 1/12/00
Littleton Courier -- Bradley, McCain
Weirs Times (Lake Winnipesaukee, weekly, 30,000 issues) -- Forbes 10/7/99

and some Massachusetts papers
Boston Globe -- McCain 1/16/00, Gore 1/16/00
Boston Herald -- Bradley 1/27/00, McCain 1/28/00
The Eagle-Tribune (Lawrence, MA; circ. in NH of about 16,500) -- Bradley, Bush 1/23/00