UPDATE: Hampton Beats Salem Patch to 1K Facebook 'Likes'!

UPDATE (2:36 p.m.): In a spirited race that lasted roughly two hours, which is eight hours less than the quickest budget meeting in Hampton history, Hampton-North Hampton Patch defeated Salem Patch in the race to 1,000 Facebook "likes" by a mere two minutes.

The race was neck-and-neck for most of the first hour, after which Hampton staked as big as a five-vote lead before Salem nearly closed the gap with a strong, last-minute surge.

In the end, it wasn't enough, and Salem Patch Editor Jake O'Donnell called Hampton-North Hampton Patch Editor Kyle Stucker at 2:29 p.m. to concede.

"It was a long [two-hour] battle," said O'Donnell. "It was good clean race, but you know it's just the way the 'likes' go. The people have spoken, and I have to accept their decision. It looks like you got it just two minutes before me. We came very close, but I didn't quite beat you."

Stucker was "grateful" for the support shown by his "loyal" readers and Facebook fans, and said he looks forward to representing Hampton and North Hampton well during the contest's victory dinner.

"I'd like to thank my opponent, a close friend and a man I respect deeply, for giving the public an entertaining and important race," said Stucker. "Most of all, I want to thank my constituents. I am grateful you believe in me, and I will take pleasure in representing you well."

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OK, in all seriousness, and with all overtly cliché political speech phrases aside, thanks everyone. You're all awesome, and thanks for playing along with our fun little contest.

A restaurant has yet to be chosen for the victory dinner, so please post your favorite Hampton or North Hampton eatery in the comments and I'll pick one based off your feedback.

I'll also be sure to share a photo of Jake tasting the sweet, sweet flavor of defeat as soon as we can arrange a day.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Hampton and North Hampton residents, I love my role in giving you crucial, timely news about the southern Seacoast area, although I also try to liven things up from time to time through little contests.

Today, I'm asking for your help in one of those contests, as Salem Patch Editor Jake O'Donnell and I, editor of Hampton-North Hampton Patch, are racing to see who can get to 1,000 Facebook "likes" first. We noticed we were both at 978 "likes" as of noon, and being close friends thought it would be fun to lay a little social media beatdown on each other.

All you have to do, if you want to get involved, is simple: Head on over to the Hampton-North Hampton Patch Facebook page, click "like" if you haven't already, or share the page with your friends in the chance they would like to "like" us.

The "loser" in this little contest has to buy the other editor a meal from a restaurant in their town. So, if I win, Jake has to come to Hampton or North Hampton and buy me a meal that will make him envious of the kind of food he only wishes he had in Salem. If he wins, I'll head to Salem and purchase food for him.

The best part of that is, though, that you get to choose what restaurant Jake has to shell out for. Simply post the name of the restaurant in the comments of this article, or post it in the comments of this post on Facebook!

There's no bad blood in this contest at all, although it would be gratifying to best my good friend Jake, a great guy I've lived with on two separate occasions and will have in my wedding party in June. No mercy, though, buddy.