Primary Endorsements Flowing In

With two weeks until the Sept. 9, primary, endorsement time has come to Campaign 2014.

U.S. Senate

The Granite State’s two largest newspapers have endorsed former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown is his bid to secure the Republican nomination on Sept. 9.

The New Hampshire Sunday News, the Union Leader’s Sunday edition, stated that while the editorial board didn’t always agree with Brown, it liked “his blue-collar roots, his many years of service to his country with the National Guard, his work to put himself through law school and the fine family that he and his wife have raised. We also like him because of his common sense approach to issues.”

The Nashua Telegraph stated that Brown “most closely adheres to those fundamental principles that shape the Granite State’s 21st-century identity.”

The Stark360 PAC, however, endorsed Jim Rubens in the primary last week, stating he was the only one who would challenge the political elites and crony capitalists in Washington, D.C.

”New Hampshire deserves better, and in Jim Rubens, New Hampshire has an alternative who stands in stark contrast to Brown, whose political positions are on sale to the highest bidder,” said Stark360 Chairman Aaron Day.

Rubens also received the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus earlier this year and the MayDay PAC, the only Republican to be endorsed by that organization.

Governor

In the Republican primary for governor, Walt Havenstein received the NH UL’s nod, with the paper stating that he was “an obvious and standout choice,” suggesting he would be “take-charge governor” who would work to put the state on “rock-solid financial footing.”

The Republican Liberty Caucus, however, chose to endorse Andrew Hemingway, its former chairman, acknowledging his previous business experience and leadership, as well as noting that he would be the country’s first millennial governor. The Stark360 PAC also endorsed Hemingway earlier this month.

1st Congressional District

The Union Leader also gave a big boost this week to the candidacy of Dan Innis, calling the Republican “Shea-Porter’s worst nightmare” and noting that the first-time candidate was “very sharp, very thoughtful, and very hard to demonize.” Many politicos saw the endorsement as a slap at former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-Manchester, who was also the mayor of the Queen City.

Earlier this month, Foster’s Daily Democrat endorsed Guinta’s return to Congress, saying, “The political left and right in Congress are at loggerheads because they have pledged allegiance to the party; not to the cause of good government. While Guinta is a conservative to our liking, he has a temperament suited to the job that welcomes those with other views into the room for an intelligent conversation.”

2nd Congressional District

The Nashua Telegraph, meanwhile, endorsed its hometown candidate in the 2nd Congressional GOP primary.

While calling the differences between all the candidates “largely ones of degree,” state Sen. Gary Lambert received the nod with the newspaper “because he is less of an ideologue and more of a pragmatist. He has expressed a willingness to work with anyone – regardless of party – to find solutions, and his time in the Senate suggests that his actions match his words.”

The newspaper also spanked one of his challengers, state Rep. Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, stating she was “bankrolled by the Koch brothers-wing of the party and would fit right in with the crew of tea-party Republicans who opted, less than a year ago, to shut down the government rather than raise the federal debt ceiling.” Ouch.

Garcia, however, received an early endorsement of the Union Leader. The Stark360 PAC also endorsed her candidacy.

Other races

The Republican Library Caucus issued what it called its “first wave” of state representative incumbent endorsements. Here’s the list of candidates in Patch counties that were endorsed:

Hillsborough County

Bill O’Brien for District 5

Calvin Pratt for District 6

Keith Murphy for District 7

Emily Sandblade for District 18

Dick Marston for District 19

Ralph Boehm for District 20

Jeanine Notter, Phillip Straight, Dick Hinch and Dick Barry for District 21

Peter Hansen for District 22

Jim Parison for District 25

David Murotake for District 32,

Jordan Ulery, Russell Ober, and Lynne Ober for District 37

Laurie Sanborn for District 41

Kathy Souza for District 43

Rhonda Lambert for District 44

Merrimack County

Dan McGuire for District 21

JR Hoell for District 23

Carol McGuire for District 29

Rockingham County

Bruce Hodgdon for District 1

Kyle Tasker and Joe Duarte for District 2

Mike Kappler for District 3

Joseph Hagan and Dan Dumaine for District 4

Robert Introne, Al Baldasaro, and Daniel Tamburello for District 5

Bianca Garcia and Patrick Bick for District 8

Jeffrey Harris for District 9

Dan Itse for District 10

Adam Schroadter for District 17

Tracy Emerick and Frederick Rice for District 21

Pam Tucker for District 23

Tim Comerford for District 33

Richard Gordon for District 35

The Stark360 PAC also issued endorsements for the Executive Council races, issuing support for Robert Burns (District 4), Joe Kenney (District 1), and Dave Wheeler (District 5).