NH Democrats Pledge to Move Country Forward

New Hampshire Democrats were fired up at their state party convention this afternoon as their candidates promised to move the country “forward, not back.”

Speeches at the convention, held at Manchester's Memorial High School, focused on fighting against the “Tea Party radicals” elected to office and continuing to rebuild the economy under President Obama.

Candidates for governor took a page out of President Barack Obama’s national campaign by saying they would move the country forward, while fighting the Republicans they claimed want to hold it back.

New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Maggie Hassan said she needs voters’ help to “beat back the extreme Republicans” this year.

She focused her attacks on Republican gubernatorial hopeful Ovide Lamontagne, whom she criticized for campaigning as an outsider when she says he has been an insider for years. On the same note, she poked fun at the Republican’s losing streak.

“The only GOP event he has been on the outside of is the victory party,” said Hassan. “That is because Ovide has the wrong priorities.”

Hassan told the audience that she will focus on protecting the environment, providing clean jobs and protecting the equality and rights of all citizens.

Democratic rival Jackie Cilley said her party needed to take the state back from Republican legislators who are looking backwards, not forwards.

“We do not ride horse and buggies anymore, we do not light kerosene lamps anymore and it is time for 'pledge politics' to come to an end,” said Cilley.

Cilley added that she would stand up for women’s health care and the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender citizens.

On the economy, she said that we need to invest in young people and build our state to be more business friendly through supporting infrastructure and education.

The third Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Bill Kennedy, said that he would fight for property owners who have lost their homes due to a struggling economy.

“Our property tax system is regressive,” said Kennedy, who favors a state income tax. “We need to go forward, no more of this status quo.”

Kennedy said he would defend those who could not defend themselves and stand up to the “radical right.”

Carol Shea-Porter, who is in the running to reclaim her former 1st District seat in Congress, gave her report card for Republican leaders. As expected, she gave them “F’s” on all of the issues, except for an “incomplete” when it comes to health care.

“They have no plan,” she said.

She told the audience that she would fight to protect the environment, economy and rights of the American people.

Ann Kuster, another candidate for the U.S. House, lashed out at Republicans for opening tax loopholes for big companies, while at the same time ignoring the common good.

“It is crystal clear now, Congress is broken,” said Kuster. “And if we want a new approach in Washington, we need a new congressman.”

She said she was surprised that Republicans are still going after family planning issues, and she affirmed that she would stand for women’s rights and the rights of all citizens.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party convention coincide with the opening of the state headquarters for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Wayne MacDonald, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, said in a statement that the enthusiasm on display at Romney's new office in Bedford showed that Republicans are motivated this election season to take back the White House and New Hampshire's corner office.