Bettencourt, Galluzzo: Why We're Endorsing Marco Rubio for President

By Shannon Bettencourt and Judy Galluzzo

As we know, town hall meetings are the backbone of earning the vote here in New Hampshire’s First in the Nation presidential primary.

Last week at the Salem Elks Club, local residents got to meet Marco Rubio in a town hall meeting up close and personal, and spend over an hour talking with him, asking questions about his plan to better secure the future of our country.

What our friends and neighbors saw was an exceptional combination of substance and skill, coupled with the inspirational, optimistic vision that has compelled both of us to endorse Senator Rubio’s campaign for president.

Although we come from different generations, we are united in our belief that Marco Rubio is a strong and thoughtful leader who represents the future of our party and nation. He has significant foreign policy experience, and sees clearly the dangers we face as a result of this Administration’s weakness in confronting ISIS, Iran and other threats. Under his leadership, our country will once again serve as a reassuring example of strength and freedom throughout the world. And we know that as our President, he will stand with and protect our strongest ally in the Middle East – Israel. Under a President Rubio, our allies will once again know that they have our full support and our enemies will once again fear us.

At home, Senator Rubio has taken the reform credentials he earned first as Florida’s Majority Leader, and then as its Speaker of the House, to develop the most detailed, free market policy agenda by any candidate in this race, focusing on fundamental tax, higher education and VA reforms that will improve the lives of our families, our businesses and our veterans. As mothers, we are moved by his understanding of the challenges single moms face in our society, and what we can do to create greater opportunities for them. As Republicans, we are encouraged that he has what it takes, more than anyone else, to create an appealing contrast to Hillary Clinton and defeat her next year.

Marco’s story isn’t one of privilege or wealth. His parents immigrated from Cuba seeking a better life, and worked tirelessly for decades as a bartender and maid to live the American Dream, and make it real for Marco and his brothers and sisters. His moving story has clearly inspired the love he feels for our country and his belief that we are just one election away from establishing a new American century.

Marco is a proud, principled and accomplished conservative who is a breath of fresh air in a campaign season too often focused on dynasties. We are proud to back him for President, and look forward to working with him to earn your support in the months ahead.

Shannon Bettencourt is a highly regarded community leader, serving as chairman of the Salem Budget Committee, to which she was elected in 2014. Working at a senior level in corporate communications today, Shannon previously served as a communications specialist for the NH House of Representatives, as well as several Republican campaigns.

Judy Galluzzo is a widely respected Republican activist and community leader from Salem who previously served as Salem GOP Chair for 10 years, as Rockingham County Chair for the Romney for President Campaign and town chair for Sununu for Senate, Bass for Congress and Horn for Congress, while running a number of other races for locally elected officials. Judy previously served on the staff of Governor John H. Sununu in the New Hampshire Governor’s Office.