Romney Winning Endorsement Battle in NH

The big news today is that U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte is joining a growing list of Republicans supporting Mitt Romney for president. The former Massachusetts governor is leading in New Hampshire legislative endorsements, with the GOP establishment cementing in his corner.

The list includes House of Salem, former U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg, former Gov. John H. Sununu, a handful of past GOP chairmen, and four of five sitting Executive Councilors.

Don't look now, but the endorsements are starting to churn out for all the candidates  50 days away. Some recent developments include:

• "Defenders with Newt," a coalition of veterans and first responders supporting Newt Gingrich led by Gary Gahan of Merrimack and Frank Emiro of Londonderry.
• Former U.S. Attorney for NH Thomas P. Colantuono, former Rep. Bob Giuda, and Rep. Jordan Ulery among those coming out for Herman Cain.
• Rockingham County Commissioner Maureen Barrows of Exeter joining Renee Riedel-Plummer of Portsmouth and state Sen. Nancy Stiles of Hampton in forming the Rockingham County Leadership Team for Jon Huntsman. Said team includes Daniel Silverman of North Hampton, Bradley Lown of Portsmouth, Eduardo and Marie Lopez-Reyes of Portsmouth, Tasha Olsen of Portsmouth, Nancy Stickney of Salem, Mike Flathers of Salem, and Glenn Waugaman of Windham.
• And Rick Santorum continues to quietly collect supporters, his New Hampshire effort bolstered by co-chairs Bill Cahill, Claira Monier, and state Rep. Dan Tamburello. Santorum also landed the endorsement of Merrimack Town Councilman Bill Boyd.

Here is a snapshot of legislative endorsements, as announced and supplied by the campaigns. In some cases, people may be former lawmakers or elected officials. The list is fluid, as candidates are adding names by the day, and some have switched campaigns, like jumping from Rick Perry to Mitt Romney.

MITT ROMNEY

• Rep. Christopher Ahlgren
• Rep. Mary Allen
• Rep. Ron Belanger
• Rep. DJ Bettencourt
• Rep. Norma Champagne
• Rep. Gene Charron
• Rep. Russell Day
• Rep. Shaun Doherty
• Rep. Susan Emerson
• Rep. Beverly Ferrante
• Rep. Jack Flanagan
• Rep. Laura Gandia
• Rep. Marilinda Garcia
• Rep. Mary Griffin
• Rep. Ken Hawkins
• Rep. David Hess
• Rep. Kathleen Hoelzel
• Rep. Frank Holden
• Rep. Will Infantine
• Rep. Phyllis Katsakiores
• Rep. Joseph Krasucki
• Rep. Norman Major
• Rep. Charles McMahon
• Rep. Irene Messier
• Rep. Robert Moore
• Rep. Chris Nevins
• Rep. John O’Connor
• Rep. Barry Palmer
• Rep. Betsey Patten
• Rep. Tony Pellegrino
• Rep. Michael Reed
• Rep. Beverly Rodeschin
• Rep. Robert Rowe
• Rep. Carl Seidel
• Rep. Stephen Schmidt
• Rep. Edwin “Smokey” Smith
• Rep. Molly Smith
• Rep. Frank Sterling
• Rep. Elaine Swinford
• Rep. John Sytek
• Rep. Ross Terrio
• Rep. John Tholl
• Rep. William Tobin
• Rep. James Webb
• Rep. David Welch
• Rep. Michael Weeden
• Sen. Jack Barnes
• Sen. Gary Lambert
• Sen. Jim Rausch
• Sen. Tom DeBlois
• Sen. David Boutin
• Sen. Russell Prescott
• Sen. Church Morse
• Sen. Jeb Bradley

RICK PERRY

• Rep. Kevin Avard
• Rep. Al Baldassaro
• Rep. David Bates
• Rep. Ralph Boehm
• Rep. Spec Bowers
• Rep. Randall Brownrigg
• Rep. Larry Gagne
• Rep. Edmond Gionet
• Rep. Carlos Gonzalez
• Rep. Warren Groen
• Rep. Dick Hinch
• Rep. John Hikel
• Rep. Win Hutchinson
• Rep. Mike Kappler
• Rep. Tom Keane
• Rep David Lundgren
• Rep. Frank McCarthy
• Rep. Andrew Renzullo
• Rep. Fred Rice
• Rep. Pete Silva
• Rep. Will Smith
• Rep. Gregory Sorg
• Rep. Pam Tucker, Deputy Speaker
• Rep. Moe Villeneuve
• Rep. Ken Weyler

• Former Congressman Chuck Douglas
• Former U.S. Sen. Gordon Humphrey
• Former RNC member Sean Mahoney
• John Stephen, former GOP nominee, governor.

RON PAUL

• Sen. Jim Forsythe
• Sen. Andy Sanborn
• Rep. Anne Cartwright
• Rep. Jenn Coffey
• Rep. Seth Cohn
• Rep. Tim Comerford
• Rep. Guy Comtois
• Rep. Cameron DeJong
• Rep. Paul Ingbretson
• Rep. JR Hoell
• Rep. Kyle Jones
• Rep. Laura Jones
• Rep. Robert Kingsbury
• Rep. Robert Malone
• Rep. Jonathan Maltz
• Rep. Andrew Manuse
• Rep. Donna Mauro
• Rep. Paul Mirski
• Rep. George Lambert
• Rep. Lisa Scontas
• Rep. Tammy Simmons
• Rep. Carol Vita
• Rep. Lucien Vita
• Rep. Mark Warden

RICK SANTORUM

• Rep. Jason Antosz
• Rep. Regina Birdsell
• Rep. Kevin Brown
• Rep. Sue Carroll
• Rep. Richard Girard
• Rep. Don LeBrun
• Rep. Mark Lindsley
• Rep. Ted Maravelias
• Rep. John McDonnell
• Rep. Jeanine Notter
• Rep. Bill Ohm
• Rep. Lenette Peterson
• Rep. John Sedensky
• Rep. Wes Shuler
• Rep. Greg Spero
• Rep. Matt Swank
• Rep. Dan Tamburello  (NH co-chairman)
• Rep. Randall Whitehead
• Hillsborough County Attorney Dennis Hogan
• Carroll County Sheriff Christopher Conley

JON HUNTSMAN

• Rep. Peter Bolster
• Rep. Julie Brown
• Rep. Richard Drisko
• Rep. Carolyn Gargasz
• Rep. David Kidder
• Rep. David Knox
• Rep. Rick Ladd
• Rep. Priscilla Lockwood
• Rep. David Robbins
• Rep. Adam Schroadter
• Rep. Jeff St. Cyr
• Rep. Jim Waddell
• Sen. Nancy Stiles
• Former Senate President Stuart Lamprey
• Former Sen. Dave Currier

GARY JOHNSON

• Rep. Bruce MacMahon
• Rep. Brian Seaworth
• Rep. Kyle Tasker

HERMAN CAIN

• Rep. Mike Ball
• Rep. Charles Brosseau
• Rep. Sam Cataldo
• Rep. William Condra
• Rep. Bill Panek
• Rep. Kevin Reichard
• Rep. Steve Smith
• Rep. Joseph Thomas
• Rep. Jordan Ulery

• Thomas Colantuono, former U.S. attorney for NH
• Former Rep. Mark Carter
• Former Rep. Robert Giuda
• Former Rep. James A. Lawrence

NEWT GINGRICH

“Defenders with Newt” coalition of veterans and first responders:

• Former state Rep. Frank Emiro of Londonderry, co-leader
• Gary Gahan of Merrimack, co-leader

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