By Amy Schatz
The Wall street Journal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Despite reservations, Republican presidential candidates will answer questions tonight from the public submitted via YouTube in a two-hour debate to air on CNN.

The candidates are preparing for questions like those asked in the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate in July, when they fielded a query from an animated snowman on global warming and a gay couple’s question on same-sex marriage.

With six weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses, the stakes in this debate are higher. The eight men haven’t debated in a month. Polls suggest former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney leads in Iowa and New Hampshire, while former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani holds a commanding lead here in Florida; Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) is chipping away at Romney’s lead in New Hampshire, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is surging in Iowa.

Polls also suggest many Republican voters are open to switching allegiances, particularly to someone deemed better suited to challenge Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton next November.

Some of the campaigns expressed concern about the debate format, worried that Democratic activists would stack the deck with questions. CNN producers say they have no intention of choosing “gotcha” questions and plan to put forward questions on issues important to Republican voters, such as national security and health care.

YouTube, a unit of Google Inc., says almost 5,000 video questions have been submitted, more than twice the number for the Democratic debate. CNN is likely to choose about 40.

As of last weekend, education and health care drew the most interest, accounting for 15% of the questions, according to an analysis of the first 3,000 submissions by YouTube.

In the first CNN/YouTube debate, questions by people describing personal experiences were often chosen. Steve Grove, who oversees YouTube’s news and politics section, says this time, even more people “seem to have a better idea of how to ask a good question; there are a lot more personal stories.”

Questions are limited to 30 seconds. Many questioners simply talk straight at the camera, while others use animated aliens or a bobble-head doll to make pointed queries. One of the questions is from a Democratic presidential candidate, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, who asked the Republican hopefuls about constitutional protections.

The debate was delayed for several months after Messrs. Giuliani and Romney expressed concern about taking questions from snowmen and their ilk. Both said they had scheduling problems. Republican bloggers criticized the candidates, who then agreed to join the debate, which will start at 8 p.m. EST.

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OBAMA CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE -- NOV. 26

More than 1000 New Hampshire Independents Endorse Obama As Obama hosts roundtable with independents in Littleton, undeclared Granite Staters praise his principled leadership, history of bipartisan results

MANCHESTER — More than 1000 undeclared New Hampshire voters announced their intention to vote for Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic primary today. Citing his straightforward, principled approach and track record of putting results ahead of partisan political maneuvering, the Granite State independents endorsed Obama as the candidate they believe in to bring real change to Washington.

“I’m tired of watching the Democrats and Republicans in Washington play political games while millions of Americans remain uninsured, the disastrous Iraq war goes on with no end in sight, and global warming goes unchecked,” said Russ Ouellete, an undeclared voter from Bedford. “It’s time for a President who will stop promising change and actually rise above the partisan gridlock to deliver on it. Obama is the one candidate in this race who can bring people together to put real results ahead of party politics.”

Today at a roundtable with independents in Littleton, Obama reiterated his intention to be a president who forges bipartisan solutions on big challenges. As an Illinois State Senator and a United States Senator, Obama has worked with Democrats and Republicans to make government work for people – expanding healthcare coverage, providing tax relief for working Americans, and passing sweeping ethics reforms.

The following undeclared New Hampshire voters publicly announced their support of Obama:
Anne Aasgaard, Peterborough

Deborah Abelman, Concord

Donna Ackerman, Sanbornville

George Ackerman, Sanbornville

Sandra Adams, Nashua

Sharon Adler, New Boston

Elinor Adler, Salem

Walter Adler, Salem

Jennifer Agans, Amherst

Gillian Aguilar, Portsmouth

Francis Aguilar, Portsmouth

Sandra Akacem, Enfield

Mary Akerly, Goffstown

Kathleen Aldridge, Gilford

Meredith Allen, Londonderry

Julienne Allen, Manchester

Mary Allison, Freedom

Evelyn Amidon, Merrimack

Edison Amorim, Rochester

Eric Anderson, Stratham

Mark Anderson, Concord

Arthur Ansdell, Merrimack

Dr. Timothy Antaya, Hampton Falls

John Anton, Atkinson

Kelly Antonelli, Rochester

Wendy Appleton, Bedford

Elaine Arata, Belmont

Faith Armington, Nashua

Amanda Armstrong, Portsmouth

Christian Arnold, Jaffrey

Amy Aro-Youngman, Keene

Andrew Arthur, Nashua

Phyllis Ashenhurst, Nashua

Fuad Ashour, New Ipswich

Joseph Astle, Warner

Edward Atwell, Wolfeboro

Lisa Auger, Atkinson

George Ayres, Lyndeborough

Rena Badger, Nashua

Joseph Badger, Jackson

Michael Bagshaw, Mont Vernon

Janet Bailey, Hooksett

Gladys Baker, Nashua

Gretchen Baker, Manchester

Patricia Baker, Rochester

Gunnar Baldwin, Thornton

Heather Baldwin, Thornton

Margaret Ball, Belmont

Bennett Ball, Rochester

Patricia Ballestero, Madbury

Anatoli Baranov, Merrimack

Huntington Barclay, Silver Lake

Caroline Barnebey, Wolfeboro

Sandra Barton, Northwood

Janet Bayard, Meredith

Suzanne Bayard, Meredith

Susan Bean, Concord

Laura Bedard, W Peterborough

Kimberly Beers, Concord

Althea Behm, Northwood

Dorothy Belanger, Hinsdale

Brian Belgard, Keene

Joann Beliveau, Goffstown

David Bell, Weare

Charles Bell, Tilton

Seth Benowitz, Goffstown

Frederick Benson, Winchester

Nancy Benson, Dover

Irene Benson, Marlborough

Norma Bentilla, Raymond

Allan Berggren, Claremont

Dorothy Bernier, Manchester

Michael Berry, Bedford

Marion Best, Wilmot

Irene Bey, Center Conway

John Beyrent, Gilford

Vidhya Bhat, Durham

Erica Bickford, Wolfeboro

Violet Bishop, Merrimack

Mary Blackford, Concord

Thomas Blake, Northwood

Francis Blodget, Wolfeboro

Francis Blodget, Wolfeboro

Margaret Blodget, Wolfeboro

Samuel Boduch, Barrington

Mark Bogdanovich, Atkinson

Megan Bogonovich, Concord

Charles Bojus, Freedom

Patricia Bojus, Freedom

Paula Bonner, Concord

Marjorie Bonneville, Tilton

Charles Bonosky, Portsmouth

Robert Borden, Keene

Scott Borkland, Newington

Robert Bouchard, Pembroke

Albert Bourque, Portsmouth

Bonny Bourque-Pinkham, Somersworth

Robert Bowen, Londonderry

Catherine Boyle, New Ipswich

Eric Bozoian, Manchester

Elizabeth Bramante, Durham

Doria Bramante, Durham

Susan Branch, Concord

David Bredow, Bedford

Cynthia Brewster, Gilsum

Roger Brickner, Haverhill

Robert Briere, New Boston

Alyssa Brigandi, Dover

Paul Brock, Bedford

Allen Brown, Peterborough

Virginia Brown, Peterborough

Virginia Brown, Barrington

Mary Brown, Hanover

Nancy Brown, Rindge

Allison Browne, Plymouth

John Browne, Bedford

Sue Browne, Thornton

William Browne, Thornton

David Brownell, Bartlett

Dorothy Brownell, Bartlett

Marie Bruce, Derry

Frank Brunette, Hampton

Theresa Brunette, Hampton

Jonathan Bryde, Manchester

Tracey Bryde, Manchester

Beverly Bullard, Farmington

Stuart Bullis, Milton

Gary Bullock, Canterbury

Paul Burdick, Nashua

Donald Burness, Rindge

Donald Burns, Bow

Margaret Cade, Freedom

Dennis Cannon, Merrimack

Roger Cantlin, Canaan

Mary Carleton, Etna

Barbara Carpenito, Manchester

Jane Carr, New Boston

Gail Carter, Rochester

Christopher Carter, Hopkinton

Jessica Carter, Nashua

Kimberly Cartier, Auburn

Jaime Caryl-Klika, Concord

James Casazza, Pelham

Peter Case, Tamworth

Anna Casey, Newmarket

David Casey, Laconia

Sheldon Cassady, Concord

Anthony Catalino, Greenland

Anthony Cataluna, Nashua

Cassandra Caza, Exeter

James Cestrone, Hudson

Meredith Cestrone, Hudson

Karin Cevasco, Nashua

Phyllis Chamberlain, Keene

Melanie Chaput, Nashua

Joseph Chartier, Concord

Linda Chesley, Charlestown

Harry Chesley, Charlestown

Marshall Chewning, Claremont

Susan Childress, Wilton

Eleanor Childs, Pelham

Wesley Chisholm, Sharon

June Churchill, Keene

Robert Claflin, West Chesterfield

Pamela Clark, Laconia

Melissa Clark, Gilmanton Iron Works

Daniel Clark, Somersworth

Charles Clarke, Loudon

Adrienne Clement, Exeter

Jennifer Coburn, Newport

Tamara Cocchiarella, Campton

Timothy Cofran, Gilmanton

Harriett Cohen-Alexander, Auburn

Jeffrey Cole, Manchester

Candace Cole-McCrea, Milton

Vangie Collins, Nashua

Paula Colman, Rochester

Anne Commenator, Derry

Jose Concepcion, Stoddard

Richard Conde, Henniker

Kathleen Connair, Claremont

Claire Connolly, Manchester

Joan Connors, Portsmouth

Marguerite Connors, Hampton

Darryl Conrad, Merrimack

Warren Cook, Laconia

Jennifer Cooke, Lyme

Sarah Cooley, Concord

Linda Cooney, Sunapee

Deborah Cooper, Dunbarton

Kelly Corbelle, Exeter

Ronald Cormier, Belmont

Doris Cote, Nashua

Janet Cote, Bristol

Tyler Cote, Keene

David Cote, Manchester

Sylvia Countway, Alton

Rebecca Courser, Warner

Diane Coveny, New Hampton

James Cowan, Hollis

Lynn Cowan, Hollis

Courtney Cox, Harrisville

Marie Coye, Litchfield

Cecelia Crapser, Center Conway

Brian Crowley, Exeter

Constance Cuddemi, Henniker

Kenneth Cutting, Alexandria

Sarah Cutting, Alexandria

Genevieve Danielian, Goffstown

Karen Dannis, Raymond

Sasha Davidson, Portsmouth

Loren Davis, North Conway

William Davis, North Conway

Jessie Dawes, Peterborough

John Dawnis, Newmarket

Tanya Decato, Canterbury

Melvin Defosses, Alexandria

Vernon Defreese, Portsmouth

Mark Defreitas, Manchester

Carol Delaurier, Brookfield

Helen Deloge, Concord

Laura Delucia, Manchester

Andrew Demers, Pelham

William Demers, Bethlehem

Dawn Demers-Cowled, Greenfield

Ruth Depuy, Peterborough

Norman Depuy, Peterborough

Stephanie Derosier, Belmont

Jeffery Desmond, Claremont

Carol Despres, Marlow

Brett Destefano, Greenland

Christine Destrempes, Harrisville

Linda Devere, Ossipee

Aja Devork, Wolfeboro

Michael Diamond, Salem

Rita Diclemente, Hollis

Mary Digregorio, Center Conway

Karen Dill, West Chesterfield

Anita Dinitto, Exeter

Stacey Dionne, Weare

William Diprima, Stratham

Christopher Dixon, Hudson

Cynthia Dobe, Concord

James Dockham, Walpole

Paul Doherty, Merrimack

Ashley Stiles, Nashua

Dana Donovan, Kensington

Lisa Douglas, Nashua

Elisabeth Draper, Claremont

Leo Drouin, Walpole

Renald Dubreuil, Goffstown

Dorothy Duckworth, Thornton

Priscilla Duffy, Dover

Lois Dugan, Londonderry

Mark Dugas, Exeter

Andrew Duncan, Concord

Heather Dunford, Epsom

Patricia Dunn, Jackson

Nicole Dupuis, Stratham

Donna Dusell, Andover

Lila Dyas, Wilton

Alex Dyment, Durham

Gary Eager, Manchester

David Eastman, Tamworth

Horace Eaves, Exeter

Diane Eddy, Lee

Adam Edgar, Dover

Indra Edmonds, Strafford

Susan Edwards, Hanover

Janet Eldridge, Somersworth

Thomas Elliott, West Lebanon

William Elliott, New Boston

Jessica Ellis, Concord

Jason Emmick, Manchester

Laura Emmick, Manchester

Jeanne Emmick, Milford

Barbara Enright, Peterborough

William Epply, Hanover

Howard Epstein, Gilford

Christina Estes, Farmington

Jeffrey Evans, Nashua

Ann Ewalt, Dover

Barbara Ewell, Derry

Diane Faiella, Manchester

Thomas Favorite, Brookline

Karen Favorite, Brookline

Nicholas Fegley, Ctr Barnstead

Theresa Fenton, Nashua

Paula Ferenc, Rumney

Leah Ferenc, Rumney

Jeffrey Ferguson, Concord

John Fernandez, Hampstead

Charles Ferrando, Keene

Elizabeth Ferrer-Quasli, Salem

Catherine Ferriero, Derry

Nancy Fisher, Concord

Gregory Fitzgerald, Merrimack

Brian Fitzgerald, Alton

Brandyn Fitzgerald, Merrimack

Jane Flanders, Laconia

Teri Fleck, Wonalancet

Louise Flynn, Goffstown

Elizabeth Foemel, Nashua

Roy Foltan, Bath

Jeanne Foltan, Bath

Juanita Fonseca, Exeter

Judy Foote, Tilton

Donald Forrest, Claremont

Kristine Fortier, Raymond

Gunnar Foss, Northwood

Marie-Anne Foss, Goffstown

Charles Foss, Goffstown

Barbara Fournier, Concord

Michele Foye, Tilton

Anne Franciosa, Belmont

Marie Franklin, Kensington

Irene Franzen, Hooksett

Russell Frasier, Manchester

Desiree Frasier, Manchester

Roger Frechette, North Conway

Robert Fredette, Dover

Bruce Freeman, Litchfield

Robert Freeman, Laconia

Kerry Freeman, Laconia

Charles French, North Conway

Robert Frese, Exeter

Scott Fullam, Littleton

Eric Funk, Manchester

W Funk, Gilmanton

Michelle Funke, Manchester

Melanie Gabree, Bedford

Mary Gabrick, Laconia

Robert Gage, Dover

Janice Gallinger, Portsmouth

Claire Gannon, Campton

Robert Garcia, Exeter

Sandra Garcia, Amherst

Marion Gardner, Gilford

Roberta Garfield, Plainfield

Christopher Garland, Peterborough

David Garrapy, Keene

Susan Garvan, Wolfeboro

Julie Garvin, New Boston

Andra Gawley, Nashua

Judith Geaghan, Salem

Samuel Geiger, Rindge

Nancy Geissenhainer, Madison

Derek Gelinas, Manchester

Dannielle Genovese, Kingston

Christopher George, Portsmouth

Madgeline Gerlach, Pittsfield

Margaret Ghiloni, Londonderry

Joseph Ghiloni, Londonderry

John Ghiorzi, Nashua

Joseph Giannelli, Freedom

Patricia Gianotti, North Hampton

Richard Giglio, Freedom

Peter Gilligan, East Kingston

Karen Gilmore, Merrimack

Joan Glutting, Lee

Brenda Godwin, Andover

Judith Goguen, Alexandria

Barry Goldman, Windham

Lynn Goldman, Windham

Steven Gordon, Hopkinton

Anne Gould, Bedford

Carol Gove, Temple

Carol Grace, Merrimack

Charles Grace, Merrimack

Sally Graf, Jaffrey

Julie Grandgeorge, Goffstown

Heather Gray, Goffstown

Stedman Gray, Gilsum

Holly Green, Henniker

Harold Greene, Thornton

Amanda Greenier, Merrimack

Martha Gregory, Marlborough

Robert Grier, Alstead

Kathryn Griffin, Winchester

Justine Griffin, Merrimack

Carlos Gristani, Hollis

Linda Gross, Derry

Bonnie Guercio, Hollis

Andrea Guidoboni, Milford

George Guild, Nashua

James Guy, Dublin

Paul Hackett, Gilford

Betty Hackmann, New London

Carolyn Hackwell, Hopkinton

Robert Hackwell, Hopkinton

Francine Hall, Exeter

Anson Hall, Exeter

Sara Hall, Exeter

Brendon Hamberger, Milford

F Hamel, Laconia

Mary Hamer, Bedford

Diana Hanks, Merrimack

Eugenie Hansen, Exeter

Robert Hardy, Pittsfield

Pamela Hardy, Boscawen

Sheila Harmon, Derry

Shirley Harper, Rye

Holly Harris, Durham

Christi Hartford, Conway

Richard Hartford, Conway

Neill Hartman, Hanover

Ardith Harvey, Hampton Falls

Philip Harvey, Hampton Falls

George Hast, Tilton

Wendy Hatfield, Rochester

Stefan Hausberger, Nashua

Edward Hause, Dover

Jan Havinga, Mont Vernon

Maria Havinga, Mont Vernon

Jared Hay, Dover

Jerry Hejtmanek, Portsmouth

Arthur Heller, Keene

David Henriquez, Litchfield

Joan Henson, Exeter

Adren Hervey, Durham

Joan Hickey, North Conway

Carol Higgins, Rochester

Jason Hilbert, Durham

Isabella Hill, Francestown

Daniel Hillsgrove, Alton

Sandra Hines, Derry

Debra Hodges, Goffstown

Laura Hodgkins, Bow

Joseph Hoebeke, Manchester

Judith Holley, Hillsborough

Frank Holmes, Madison

Alice Holmstrom, Rollinsford

Dennis Holt, Manchester

Susan Holt, Amherst

Tia Maria Hooper, Henniker

Angela Hosage, Amherst

Catherine Hosage-Norman, Nashua

Diane Howard, Keene

Jayne Howe, Merrimack

Suzanne Huggard, Deering

Denise Hunneyman, Salisbury

Randall Hunneyman, Salisbury

Gena Hunt, Hudson

Marie Hurlbert, Winchester

Wendy Hurley, Rochester

William Hurley, Rochester

Heather Hurtt, Portsmouth

June Iffland, Bow

Sookjwa Ihm, Exeter

John Indelicato, Windham

Ingrid Inferrere, Manchester

Patricia Ingelstrom, Greenfield

Crystal Islam, Londonderry

Kip Jackson, Merrimack

Ann Jackson, Nashua

Donna Jacobs, Nelson

Thomas Jameson, Chichester

Ronald Janowitz, Manchester

Sonya Janson, Lebanon

Bradley Jarvis, Dover

Sally Jasper, Hollis

Alex Jeanty, Londonderry

John Jewell, Concord

Cynthia Jewett, Roxbury

David Jewett, Roxbury

Joel Johnson, Portsmouth

Joanne Johnson, Rochester

Margaret Johnson, Wonalancet

Ulla Johnson, Amherst

Judith Johnson, Jackson

Shirley Jones, Concord

Beverly Jones, Laconia

Phyllis Jordan, Chichester

Germaine Joyce, Concord

Dale Kandoll, Temple

Laurie Kandoll, Temple

Mary Kane, Loudon

Krishnamurthi Kannan, Merrimack

Christopher Kantargis, Merrimack

Andrew Kaplan, Portsmouth

Martin Karawski, Weare

Anthony Karistianos, Hudson

Lee Kass, Amherst

Stanley Kass, Amherst

Thomas Kehler, Hanover

Dan Keith, Belmont

Craig Kellem, Lyme

Christopher Kelley, Merrimack

Debra Kendall, Merrimack

Carianna Keniston, Exeter

Theresa Kennett, N Conway

Kay Kenyon, Nashua

Bonnie Young Kerr, Manchester

Newton Kershaw, Manchester

Lisa Kershaw, Mont Vernon

Kimberly Kerwin, Hancock

Karen Kharitonov, Ctr Barnstead

Maxim Kharitonov, Ctr Barnstead

Charles Khoury, Wilton

Kenneth Kiburis, Keene

Kimberly Kiesman, North Conway

Dawn Kilcrease, Rindge

Michael Kiley, Manchester

Mary Kimmel, Concord

Molly King, Gilford

Barbara Kingsbury, Hinsdale

Charles Kingsbury, Hinsdale

Deborah Kinson, Bow

Amy Kipphut, Concord

Timothy Klika, Concord

Sean Klingle, Merrimack

Gary Knight, Brookfield

Marianne Knowlton, Portsmouth

Barbara Koivula, Bennington

Ronald Koivula, Bennington

Diane Koller, Peterborough

William Kramer, West Lebanon

David Krempels, Portsmouth

Jason Ku, Manchester

William Kucharski, Milford

Elaine Kulingoski, Nashua

Bradford Kuster, Hopkinton

Jane Labelle, Warner

Jane Lacasse, Concord

George Lacourse, Winchester

Dan Lacrosse, Windham

Jeffrey Ladd, Wolfeboro

Stephanie Laflamme, Bedford

Sharon Laflamme, Fitzwilliam

Jennifer Lague, Derry

Richard Lak, Dover

Anne Lalish, Northwood

Jeffrey Lalish, Northwood

Laurie Lalish, Northwood

Kelly Lalonde, Bedford

Orlando Lamarco, Rochester

Claire Lambert, Nashua

John Lamoureux, Claremont

Nancy Lamoureux, Milton

Marc Lanciaux, North Conway

Charles Langille, New Ipswich

Linda Langille, New Ipswich

Charles Langille, Keene

Faith Laro, Concord

Stephen Laroche, Deerfield

David Laroche, Merrimack

Martha Larrabee, Lebanon

Jody Latulippe, Derry

Charles Laurent, Laconia

Suzanne Lavalla, Nashua

Muriel Lavalley, Concord

Allison Leach, Dover

Caitlin Leary, Amherst

Donna Leavell, Manchester

Rodman Leavell, Manchester

Karen Leavitt, Deerfield

Jessica Leavitt, Sunapee

Martha Leclair, Plymouth

Joseph Leclaire, Hinsdale

Joanne Lecount, Mason

Anne Lederhos, Amherst

Julie Lee, Londonderry

Stephen Lee, Londonderry

Helen Lee, Concord

Jeffrey Lee, Durham

Maryann Lehman, Raymond

Susan Leidy, Concord

Robbin Leigh, Bow

Jacqueline Lewis, Derry

Carol Lewis, Bedford

Marie Lightizer, Newton

Matthew Lightizer, Newton

Nancy Lindsey, Laconia

William Linkroum, Merrimack

Tigest Lint, Merrimack

Charles Lippincott, New Boston

Lynn Lippitt, Milford

Edward Littlefield, Merrimack

Daniel Lloyd, Newport

Steven Lombard, Moultonborough

Craig Lombardo, Concord

Loretta Long, Somersworth

Caroline Lopardo, Weare

Frances Lovejoy, Keene

James Lowther, Merrimack

Kristopher Lozeau, Nashua

Jason Lucey, Dover

Brook Luers, Nashua

Mary Lyman, Belmont

Michael Lynch, Concord

Mark Mabra, Concord

Lisa MacAllister, Jackson

Douglas MacDonald, Nashua

Elise MacDonald, New Ipswich

Rosemary Mack, Dublin

John MacLeod, Wilmot

Nancy MacLeod, Wilmot

Gerald Mafera, Derry

Marie Magoon, Bennington

Farzad Mahjobi, Nashua

Dennis Mahoney, Derry

Helen Mahoney, Goffstown

Jessica Mahoney, Manchester

Gregory Makechenie, Andover

Mia Manning-Osborn, Peterborough

Stephany Marchut Lavallee, Henniker

Martin Marcinkoski, Rochester

Kenneth Marcks, New Boston

Janice Marden, Goffstown

Marjorie Margolis, Sharon

Paul Marrone, Concord

Donald Marshall, Fremont

Elsa Marshall, Dover

Bruce Marshall, Hampton

Lucinda Marshall, Hampton

Mary Martel, Wilton

Lindsay Martel, Goffstown

Jennifer Mason, Portsmouth

Amy Mason, Canterbury

Kevin Mason, Canterbury

Kyle Masters, Henniker

Robyn Matheson, Exeter

Theodore Mathias, Hanover

Gail Matthews, Wilmot

Glenn Matthews, Wilmot

Richard Matz, Dover

Ridgely Mauck, Concord

Edward Maura, Tamworth

Tyler McArthur, Nashua

Judith McBriarty, Milford

Michelle McCarron, Hillsborough

Martha McCarthy, Sanbornville

Ryan McCarthy, Sanbornville

Barbara McCarthy, Derry

Kathleen McCarthy, Kensington

Jane McClung, Concord

Theresa McCoole, Hampton

Glenn McCracken, Freedom

Genella McDonald, Canterbury

Sean McDonald, Canterbury

Summer McFarland, Nashua

Eric McGee, Nashua

Leroy McGhee, Somersworth

Katelyn McGrail, Stratham

Richard McKay, Nashua

Lisa McKee, Nashua

George McKelvey, N Haverhill

Mary McKelvey, N Haverhill

Heather McKendry, Eaton

Daniel McKernan, Nashua

Everett McLaughlin, Gilford

Lynda McLaughlin, Manchester

Rebecca McLaughlin, Somersworth

Carol McMahon, Wolfeboro

Deborah McNally, Barrington

Prentiss McNeill, Windham

Paul McShane, Merrimack

Wendi McShane, Merrimack

Joseph Medeiros, Hudson

Rebecca Medeiros, Hudson

Chuba Menakaya, Manchester

Mary Menner, Bedford

Mary Merritt, Littleton

Thomas Merritt, Littleton

William Merrow, Hopkinton

George Merrow, Hopkinton

Alexandra Merwin, Meredith

Jonathan Merwin, Meredith

Robert Merwin, Meredith

Cynthia Meyer, Marlborough

Robert Mike-Mayer, Exeter

Theodore Mikolyski, Raymond

Joanne Milbury, Concord

James Miller, Meredith

Genevieve Miller, Bedford

James Miller, Bedford

Beverly Miller, Exeter

Nadine Miller, Portsmouth

Jeremy Miller, Portsmouth

Joelly Miller, Portsmouth

Deborah Millette, Northwood

Nanci Mills, Lee

Edith Milton, Francestown

Peter Milton, Francestown

Jennifer Molahan, West Lebanon

William Monafo, Peterborough

Matthew Monahan, Bedford

Elena Monastireva-Ansdell, Merrimack

Geraldine Monti, Holderness

Susan Mooney, Gilford

Maynard Moore, Center Tuftonboro

Carol Moore, Concord

Keith Moran, Newport

Peter Morgan, Salem

Kimberly Morgan, Moultonborough

Kenneth Morreale, Londonderry

Christopher Morris, Harrisville

Teresa Morris, Harrisville

Kelley Morris, Gilmanton

Scott Morrissette, Manchester

Kevin Morton, Merrimack

Robin Mose, Hancock

Susan Moseley, Bow

Muriel Motard, Nashua

Eric Muehlmatt, Hooksett

Michael Mulloy, Salem

Frances Mulroy, Goffstown

Steven Munroe, Newmarket

Kathleen Murdough, North Conway

Jean Murphy, Moultonborough

Thomas Murphy, Moultonborough

Mariann Murphy, Wolfeboro

Thomas Murphy, Dover

Susan Murphy, Hampstead

Matthew Nania, Portsmouth

Linda Neilson, Hinsdale

Lynda Nelson, Derry

Sandra Neveu, Nashua

Lisa Neville, Francestown

Wesley Nichols, New London

Juanita Niemczyk, Hampton

Claire Nix, Keene

Mary Nocie, Warner

Sheila Nolan, E Hampstead

Timothy Nolin, Ossipee

Gail Nostrom, Newmarket

William Nostrom, Newmarket

Kathleen Obrien, Atkinson

Joan O'Brien, Barrington

Denis O'Connell, Concord

Shannon O'Connor, Hillsborough

Malcolm Odell, South Hampton

Maude Odgers, Peterborough

Patrick O'Donnell, Concord

Kendra O'Donnell, Concord

Kenneth Oliver, Stratham

Karina Olson, Durham

Dorthea O'Neil, Weare

Fred Ordway, Litchfield

Meredith Orourke, Bedford

Justin O'Rourke, Manchester

Karen O'Rourke, Manchester

John O'Shaughnessy, Northfield

Joe Ossai, Bedford

Jean O'Sullivan, Bartlett

David O'Sullivan, Bartlett

Russell Ouellette, Bedford

Erik Ouellette, Belmont

Kathryn Owens, Nashua

Kevin Packard, Merrimack

Warren Palmeira, Danbury

Christine Pariseau Telge, Manchester

Thomas Park, Washington

Alison Parodi-Bieling, Epsom

Carin Parr, Manchester

Janice Parrinello, Merrimack

Claire Partridge, Sanbornville

Barbara Ann Paster, Exeter

Nicholas Pavloski, Hudson

Anthony Pazasis, Belmont

E Pazasis, Belmont

Patricia Pedersen, Litchfield

Graham Pendlebury, New Boston

Lori Pepler, Wilton

Paula Perez, Merrimack

Kathryn Perkins, Concord

Carolyn Perret, Hooksett

Gloria Perrin, Keene

Rachel Perry, Sanbornton

Sheldon Perry, Tamworth

Barbara Perry, West Lebanon

Casey Peters, Cornish

Theresa Peters, Laconia

Donna Philbrick, Sullivan

Franklin Philbrick, Sullivan

Andrew Phillips, Auburn

Joan Phipps, Hillsborough

Rodney Phipps, Hillsborough

Daniel Pickering, Hancock

Luke Pickett, Stratham

Dana Pierce, Nashua

Mark Pierce, Wolfeboro

Lawrence Pihl, Merrimack

Ann Pike, Merrimack

Alison Pike, Stratham

Cynthia Pinard, Raymond

Peter Pinckney, Gilford

Donna Pinckney, Gilford

Robin Pinto, Hanover

Patricia Place, Francestown

Denise Plante, Nashua

Mary Platt, Concord

Anthony Poirier, Canaan

Sherry Poirier, Canaan

Lisa Pollard, Hooksett

Jeanine Poole, Concord

Anthony Poore, Manchester

Nancy Poulin, Bow

Daniel Poulin, Conway

Pamela Powers-Moll, Bedford

Barbara Pressly, Nashua

Joyce Priestly, Alexandria

Dana Primiano, Hancock

Marian Prout, Hampton

Geraldine Prusko, Gilmanton

Cindy Quetti, Hampton

Anjali Quinn, Exeter

Brenda Quinn, Hopkinton

Barbara Rafferty, Concord

Nancy Ragazzo, Merrimack

Lynn Rainsley, Rochester

Robin Rainville, Pembroke

John Randolph, Hanover

Tina Rapp, Sharon

John Rauscher, Weare

Bonnie Rausher, Weare

Frederick Rawlings, Chesterfield

June Rawlings, Chesterfield

Alex Ray, Holderness

Delma Reagan, Salisbury

Ida Reardon, Seabrook

Kevin Reardon, Derry

Nina Reed, Manchester

Shawn Regnier, Littleton

Blossom Reid, Manchester

Sean Reilly, Manchester

David Renfors, Salisbury

Trudy Renfors, Salisbury

Julie-Ann Rennie, Barrington

George Reville, Merrimack

Deidre Reynolds, Nashua

Charles Rhoades, Dover

Dorothy Richards, Litchfield

Doris Richmond, Peterborough

Norma Roberts, Exeter

Struan Robertson, Tuftonboro

Lenore Robertson, Tuftonboro

Paula Rockwell, Rindge

Linda Roeder, Belmont

Melissa Rogers, Manchester

Matthew Rolph, Warren

Rita Roper, Hudson

Michael Ross, Portsmouth

Roberta Rossi, Bedford

Lockard Row, Peterborough

Patricia Row, Peterborough

Cherri Rowell, Belmont

Maurice Roy, Nashua

Mark Rubacky, Merrimack

David Rude, Salisbury

Franklin Rudolph, Nashua

Rosemarie Rung, Merrimack

Raelene Rust, Keene

James Sabine, Hinsdale

Crystal Sabine, Hinsdale

Luke Sacher, Fitzwilliam

Charles Samardelis, Windham

Ralitsa Samardelis, Windham

Frederick Sanford, Derry

Mieko Sano, Milford

Edward Santee, Nashua

Diana Sargent, Manchester

Steven Sarro, Bedford

Nancy Sawyer, Amherst

Irene Sawyer, Milford

Shelley Saylor, Charlestown

Jennifer Saylor, Charlestown

Eugenie Scagel, Wilton

Stephany Scaglione, Somersworth

Ellen Scannell, Goffstown

John Schena, Nashua

Janet Schofield, Portsmouth

Nancy Schofield, Concord

Cory Schofield, Concord

Adam Schwarz, Etna

Thomas Scribner, Manchester

Stephanie Seacord, Newfields

Laura Sebert, Peterborough

Elaine Seibel, Hill

Stephanie Sewhuk, Nashua

Steven Sewhuk, Nashua

William Sharp, Litchfield

Isabel Sharp, Litchfield

Sara Shattuck, Bristol

Nora Shaw, Marlborough

David Shaw, Hudson

Keri Shaw, Hudson

Richard Shaw, North Hampton

Nancy Sheeler, Lebanon

Opheilla Sheen, Derry

Elizabeth Shirley, Nashua

Tara Shore, Laconia

Cris Shuldiner, Pelham

Kathleen Shumway-Pitt, Laconia

Lindley Shutz, Concord

Robin Silva, Portsmouth

Glenn Silva, New Boston

Rena Simard, Gilmanton

Deborah Simbalist, Effingham

Richard Simbalist, Effingham

Priscilla Simm, Hillsborough

Judith Singh, Nashua

David Singleton, Hill

Maria Singleton, Hill

Edward Sirois, Merrimack

Julie Slattery, Pelham

Joseph Smath, Durham

Stuart Smith, Lyme

James Smith, Moultonborough

Rose Smith, Moultonborough

Alexander Smith, Rochester

Edna Smith, Rochester

Thomas Smith, Moultonborough

Martha Smith, Lincoln

Ernest Snow, Swanzey

Anna Sodemann, Plainfield

Robert Sodemann, Plainfield

Eric Soederberg, Bedford

Andrea Solomon, Manchester

Lori Southwick, Northfield

Concepcion Spaulding, Manchester

Darrell Spencer, Nashua

Lauren Spencer, Wolfeboro

Robert Spiegelman, Londonderry

Calvin Spurr, Rochester

Doris Spurr, Rochester

Amy St George, Peterborough

Roberta Stanley, Conway

Margaret Stark, Salem

Devin Starlanyl, West Chesterfield

Michael Steckevicz, Nashua

Shirley Stephenson, Lyndeborough

Linda Stephenson, Canterbury

Robert Stevens, Belmont

Matthew Stevens, Lee

Rosemary Stewart, Wakefield

Anthony Stoddard, Sandown

Kimberly Story, Exeter

Gayle Strachan, Lebanon

John Strachan, Lebanon

Matthew Straub, Concord

Natalia Strong, Bow

Russell Strong, Bow

Naureen Stubbs, Tilton

Doraswamy Subramony, Nashua

Uma Subramony, Nashua

Paula Super, Merrimack

Roman Susalka, Nashua

Donna Swain, Laconia

Donna Swanson, Durham

Larry Swanson, Durham

Patricia Swonger, Merrimack

Roy Swonger, Merrimack

Nancy Szeto, Claremont

Riana Szymkiewicz, Newbury

Alexander Takantjas, Belmont

Bonnie Taylor, Kingston

David Taylor, Kingston

Peter Telge, Manchester

Elizabeth Terry, Stratham

Elizabeth Terry, Concord

Neil Theberge, Litchfield

Audra Theroux, Merrimack

Erin Thesing, Hopkinton

Susan Thielen, Keene

Carolyn Thomas, Portsmouth

Angelika Thomas, Concord

Brenda Thomas, Bedford

Barbara Thompson, West Lebanon

Trili Timm, Chichester

Melissa Tobey, Exeter

Sharon Todd-Elliott, New Boston

Sally Tomlinson, Orford

Sibylle Tornow, Merrimack

Ronald Tornow, Merrimack

Jennifer Torok, Dover

David Tothill, Ctr Barnstead

John Tourgee, Sharon

Geraldine Tower, Moultonborough

Richard Tower, Moultonborough

Douglas Towle, Loudon

Erick Towle, Chichester

Carolyn Tracy, Concord

Jessica Tremblay, Bedford

Darlene Tripp, Dover

Cornelia Trombly, Concord

Daniela Turczyk Cooper, Manchester

Hope Ullman, Wolfeboro

Darlene Underhill, Exeter

Debra Underwood, Claremont

Henri Vaillancourt, Greenville

Chris Valade, Nottingham

Charles Valentine, Nashua

Garrison Valentine, Rochester

Inge Valentine, Rochester

Nikolas Valkanos, Manchester

Etienne Vallee, Conway

Marcia Vallier, Wilton

Grant Vandyck, Bow

Priya Venkatesan, Lebanon

Tonya Victoria, Epping

Virginia Virgil, Rumney

Andru Volinsky, Concord

Cynthia Wahrlich, Claremont

John Wakelin, Chichester

Elaine Wallace, Londonderry

Joseph Wallace, Merrimack

Jacob Wangel-Komisar, West Lebanon

Betty Ward, Concord

Janet Ward, Hopkinton

Francis Warman, Hopkinton

Lissa Warren, Salem

Penny Warren, Bedford

Marylucille Washington, Hanover

Deborah Watrous, Concord

Robert Wayss, Portsmouth

Roxanne Weber, Hudson

Christine Weed, Concord

Casey Weeks, Moultonborough

Natalie Weeks, Belmont

Marcus Weeks, Belmont

John Weld, Manchester

Prudence Wells, Mason

Franklin Welton, New Boston

Joyce Welton, New Boston

Richard Weston, Concord

David Whelan, Concord

Melissa Whelan, Bow

Jon Whitcomb, Etna

Wendy White, Dublin

Mary Whitehead, Pembroke

Jay Wibben, Troy

Nancy Wibben, Troy

Herman Wiegelman, Hillsborough

Yvonne Wiegelman, Hillsborough

Charles Wilbert, Candia

Laurie Wilder, Hooksett

Janice Williams, Stratham

Jessica Williams, Dover

Rachel Williams, Dover

Kathleen Williamson, Weare

William Wilson, Weare

Patricia Wilson, Warren

Donald Winchester, Antrim

Susan Wingate, Rumney

Richard Winneg, Bedford

Deborah Wiswell, Concord

Sharon Witaszek, Hopkinton

Eldwin Wixson, Plymouth

Charles Woodbury, Manchester

Elizabeth Woodbury, Manchester

Matthew Woodbury, Manchester

Alan Worcester, Center Conway

Todd Wormstead, Somersworth

Lee Wotherspoon, Newton

Candace Wyman, Alton Bay

Nicholas Yager, West Lebanon

Dean York, Manchester

Catherine Young, Nashua

Jayne Young, Strafford

Cynthia Young, Exeter

Virginia Young, Epping

Michelle Young-Hampe, Tilton

Annette Zamarchi, Concord

George Zarella, Bedford

Lucyann Zeller, Canterbury

Debra Zimmermann, Gilford

Frank Zito, Bedford

Posted by Michael McCord at 12:14 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

EDWARDS ANNOUNCES PLAN TO TAKE ON HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES TO HELP FAMILIES

As part of “America Belongs to Us” week, Edwards calls for stronger insurance laws to prevent abuse and ensure American families can get the care they need

MANCHESTER – In New Hampshire today as part of “America Belongs to Us” week, Senator John Edwards unveiled his proposals to take on health insurance companies and highlighted why he is the one candidate the American people can trust to stand up to the big corporations who have used their money and lobbyists to rig the system in Washington at the expense of hardworking American families. Edwards called for stronger insurance laws to prevent abuses and ensure that everyone can get the insurance they need, strengthening enforcement of insurance rules, and the creation of more competition and choice in insurance markets.

“The American health care system is broken,” said Edwards. “Even families with insurance are often unprotected from catastrophic events, as insurers fight legitimate claims, impose coverage caps, and look for technicalities to cancel policies. Half of families entering bankruptcy today are driven by high medical costs.

“I have spent my entire life battling special interest groups to protect the rights of regular Americans. In courtrooms, I stood with families who needed a voice against armies of insurance company lawyers. In the Senate, I championed the Patients’ Bill of Rights to fight managed care and insurance company abuses. I’ve seen first-hand how far too often health insurance companies will put profit and executive bonuses above the medical needs of their customers.

“Last week, Governor Romney proposed even further deregulation of the health insurance industry – a plan that could lead to even more insured Americans without the care they need. This is clearly the wrong approach. We need tough new insurance laws to prevent abuses and ensure that Americans are no longer on their own against insurance companies.”

Under the Edwards’ plan, insurance companies will be required to sell insurance to everyone, regardless of their preexisting conditions, and prevented from denying coverage after a condition develops. Edwards will put a stop to the practice of charging more to individuals with certain occupations or with pre-existing conditions, and will set national accounting standards requiring insurers to spend at least 85 percent of their premiums on patient care. Edwards will empower consumers by forcing insurance companies to be more honest and transparent about what they will ultimately cover and making sure all insurers guarantee comprehensive benefits. Edwards also called for an updated bill of rights for patients and providers.

To strengthen oversight and maintaining insurer accountability, Edwards will create Health Care Markets and offer advocates to help patients negotiate with insurance companies. And to increase competition and stop insurance company monopolies, Edwards will block mergers that could hurt consumers, doctors and hospitals. Also, his new public insurance plan will increase competitive pressures on private insurers to hold down their costs and deliver better coverage.

Edwards’ proposals for taking on the insurance companies are part of the “America Belongs to Us” week, in which he will lay out detailed policy proposals to address specific issues that matter that matter most for American families, including the rising cost of home heating oil, protecting our children from unsafe toys and ensuring access to safe and affordable prescription drugs.

For further details on Edwards plan to take on health insurance companies, please see the “Taking on Health Insurance Companies to Help Families” paper included below.

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TAKING ON HEALTH INSURERS TO HELP FAMILIES AND PREVENT ABUSES
The American health care system is broken. There are 47 million Americans who lack health insurance, and 18,000 people die every year as a result. Health care costs are skyrocketing and premiums are up 90 percent since 2000. Even families with insurance are often unprotected from catastrophic events when insurers fight legitimate claims, impose coverage caps, and seek excuses to revoke coverage when its needed most. Half of families entering bankruptcy are driven there by high medical costs. Many people who have health insurance are “underinsured” and postpone needed health care because of their meager coverage. [Census Bureau, 2007; IOM, 2002; KFF, 2006; Warren et. al., 2005; Consumer Reports, 2007]
As senator, John Edwards championed the Patients’ Bill of Rights to fight managed care and insurance company abuses. Now more than ever, the health insurance industry needs to be kept honest. While companies have an obligation to treat their customers with fairness and dignity, too often companies put their own profits and executive pay first. Today, Edwards outlined his plan to make sure that families with insurance have the health care safety net they pay for and need.
Insurance Industry Abuses: The current health care system is broken, often letting down even families with insurance. The abusive behavior of insurance companies includes:
• Designing confusing forms and procedures that make it very difficult for patients to claim the benefits they deserve and forcing patients to hire paperwork consultants. [Pryor et. al, 2007; NY Times, 10/13/2005]
• Using complex and unfair rules to cancel insurance policies after people get sick, despite accepting past payments. California regulators fined one insurer, Blue Cross of California, $1 million for violating state rules and abusively canceling insurance policies from 2004 to 2006. Another insurer, Health Net, paid bonuses based upon the number of patients whose policies were canceled for technicalities. [Pryor et. al, 2007; Sacramento Bee, 8/29/2007; LA Times, 3/28/3006 and 11/9/2007]
• Wrongly denying medical treatment needed to live and covered by insurance. [Wall St. Journal, 11/16/2007]
• Charging patients more for “out-of-network” doctors at “in-network” hospitals, leading patients to unwittingly incur thousands of dollars in bills despite trying to follow the rules.
• Creating procedural barriers and paperwork that keep doctors from providing needed care.
Lack of Competition: In 299 of 313 markets recently surveyed, one health plan controls at least 30 percent of the market for health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations. In the last 12 years, the Department of Justice has only challenged two of more than 400 insurance company mergers. There is a merger pending in Nevada that would put 80 percent of the state’s HMO market in the hands of one insurance company. High levels of market consolidation raises concerns that the insurance market may not be competitive, hurting the health care system. [AMA, 2007; Velazquez, 2007]
Huge Levels of Executive Pay: As premiums skyrocket and some patients are denied care they need, insurance company CEOs are often paid tens of millions of dollars a year. In 2006, it was reported that the CEO of one of the world’s largest insurers, UnitedHealth Group, had been awarded an astonishing $1.1 billion in stock options, enough to cover roughly 750,000 uninsured children with health insurance for one year. [AFL-CIO, 2007; NY Times, 10/16/2006]

FIGHTING FOR FAMILIES’ RIGHTS TO BASIC INSURANCE
John Edwards has fought special interest groups his entire career and knows that we need a health care system that works for everyone. His health plan will reform the health insurance industry to help us all get the insurance we need. Today, he proposed new laws to prevent abuses, stronger enforcement of insurance rules, and more competition and choice in insurance markets. Americans will no longer be on their own against insurance companies.
Tough New Insurance Laws:
• Insurance that Is Always There: John Edwards will stop insurance industry “rescissions,” the practice of dropping individuals from insurance for technical reasons after they need their coverage. Edwards will pass a guaranteed issue law requiring insurance companies to sell insurance to everyone, regardless of their preexisting conditions, and preventing from denying coverage after a condition develops.
• A Fair Price for Good Insurance: Today, insurance companies will charge certain occupations and individuals with preexisting conditions more for insurance, such as police officers, firefighters, and construction workers. Edwards will put a stop to this practice, requiring community rating so that all people have access to insurance at a fair price.

• Ensure that Premiums Help Patients: Enacting health care reform to expand insurance to all families also requires establishing new rules so insurance companies cannot continue charging hardworking families excessive premiums, while pocketing the savings. Edwards will require insurers to spend at least 85 percent of their premiums on patient care as several states already do. The plan will force insurers to cut wasteful spending and pass savings on to families and employers.
• Empower Consumers: John Edwards will remove the mystery in what insurance companies cover. New “truth-in-insuring” rules will require insurance companies to be transparent and honest about what they will ultimately cover. The rules will set standards on explaining private insurance products and understandable medical bills.
• Guaranteed Comprehensive Benefits: Some states mandate that insurance companies must provide benefits like preventive care to children and screening tests like mammograms. Some insurance companies leave out these common-sense procedures. Under the Edwards plan, every American will have comprehensive benefits including preventive care and important tests.

• Creating a Bill of Rights for Patients and Providers: Now more than ever, Americans need a Patients’ Bill of Rights for insurance and managed care companies. In 2001, John Edwards fought for the original Bill of Rights, which passed the Senate but was eventually blocked by insurance company lobbyists. As president, Edwards will help create an updated Bill of Rights to solidify the protections discussed in 2001 and reflect today’s need to reform insurance companies’ practices.
It is also time to protect doctors and hospitals from insurance company abuses. By making it difficult for health care providers to collect on their claims, insurance companies make it difficult for patients to get the care they need. Complex forms, long hold times on the phone, and inappropriate denials of payment for needed treatments are just some of the insurance company tactics. Edwards will develop strict rules for insurance companies that will make it easier for doctors and hospitals to get paid for and deliver needed care.
Stronger Enforcement:
• Maintaining Accountability: All Americans need and deserve a strong line of protection against insurance companies. Edwards will revolutionize the individual and small group insurance markets with his new Health Care Markets, which will negotiate plans and carefully enforce protections for families. Edwards will also ask the Department of Justice and work with states to oversee insurance markets.
• Create an Advocate for Patients: In California, when a patient has a dispute with a managed care company, the state reviews the case to make sure the company acted within the law. Every patient deserves an advocate when he or she needs it. Edwards will look to models like California’s and build a national resource for regular people to get the help they need in negotiating with for insurance companies and HMOs. Edwards will also establish a medical home for Americans with chronic diseases, giving patients a primary care doctor who can advocate against insurance companies for needed care.
More Competition
• Stop Insurance Company Monopolies: Edwards will apply rigorous standards and block mergers that could hurt consumers, doctors and hospitals. He will direct the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an immediate and comprehensive review of the health insurance market and make recommendations on how to ensure a competitive market. Where monopolies already exist, he would break them up to ensure competition. He will also revisit the insurance company exception to the nation’s antitrust laws.
• New Competition for Private Insurers: The Edwards plan creates new choices for American families. The new Health Care Markets will be available to everyone who does not get comparable insurance from their jobs or a public program and to employers who choose to join rather than offer their own insurance plans. Families and individuals will choose the plan that works best for them. The markets will include a new public plan similar to Medicare. If enough people choose the public plan, then the US will evolve towards a single-payer plan. As a result, private insurers will face new rules and competitive pressures to hold down their costs and deliver better coverage.

Posted by Michael McCord at 11:09 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

Manchester. – Students associated with the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College are organizing New Hampshire's First "First-in-the-Nation-Primary" Student Primary.

On Nov. 28, the Kevin Harrington Student Ambassadors at the Institute of Politics will offer Saint Anselm’s nearly 2,000-member student body the chance to weigh in on the candidates at polling places throughout campus. This is the earliest known, large-scale mock primary vote to occur in the state.

The student primary follows the Saint Anselm College Issues Poll, which in October surveyed more than 1,500 likely New Hampshire Primary voters, who themselves will go to the polls themselves in about six weeks.

Saint Anselm students are uniquely prepared to vote in the mock primary. The college’s Institute of Politics is a stop on the campaign train for many presidential contenders. And throughout the fall, Institute programs have engaged the student body with educational programming. During Citizenship Week in September, the entire student body was offered the opportunity to register to vote, and to learn more about the candidates and the issues.

“We hope to collect a representative sample of our entire student body, representing students from throughout New England, and across the country,” said Katelyn Kerins ’09, one of the Student Ambassadors planning the event. “This vote should provide a good indication of how candidates’ messages are resonating with young voters.”

The results will be made public at 9 a.m. Nov. 29, at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. The presentation will be open to the public.

Posted by Michael McCord at 10:33 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

SEN. BIDEN ANNOUNCES ENERGY AND CLIMATE SECURITY PLAN FOR AMERICA
"If we don't change our policy, oil will further empower the countries that produce it, restrict our options, and undermine our economic and physical security."

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Sen. Joe Biden announced his plan to reduce pressures that are causing the price of oil to skyrocket and to transform America into the source of the world's energy future. While the unveiling was originally scheduled to take place at a Kum and Go gas and convenience store that offers E85/Flex-Fuel – due to inclement weather, Sen. Biden outlined his plan from his Iowa campaign headquarters.

"We must begin to embrace – like Kum & Go and General Motors – innovation that reduces our dependence on oil, builds an export economy of clean technologies, and reverses the effects of climate change," said Sen. Biden.

With Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) as his backdrop, Sen. Biden said, "We must fundamentally shift the way we consume energy in this country in every sector of the economy – from increasing fuel efficiency of vehicles and using alternative fuels to generating more power from renewable sources like the wind and the sun."

By raising fuel economy standards, increasing the amount of farm-grown fuel in the nation's fuel supply, mandating that every new vehicle built in the US be a flex-fuel vehicle and requiring large gas station chains to add alternative fuel pumps to at least half of their stations by 2017, Sen. Biden would substantially decrease our dependence on oil from unstable regions like the Middle East and cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100 million tons a year.

He called on the Administration to contain the rising security premium on oil by stopping its policy of ratcheting up tension with Iran.

"The price of every barrel of oil includes what the energy experts call a 'security premium' – an extra cost directly related to the risk of conflict - the more tensions rise, the higher the security premium goes," said Sen. Biden. "We must stop the self-defeating saber-rattling when it comes to Iran. Instead, we should make clear our interest is not regime change but conduct change."

Sen. Biden announced a $50 billion investment in green jobs, alternative energy and energy efficiency. He also committed to setting higher energy efficiency and renewable energy targets for the federal government - the nation's largest energy consumer.

Sen. Biden pledged to restore US leadership on climate change by immediately directing US negotiators to return to global climate change negotiations and bringing with them a plan from the US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

Posted by Michael McCord at 11:59 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

EDWARDS: CONGRESS SHOULDN’T HAVE HEALTH CARE IF AMERICANS DON’T

Second major New Hampshire ad highlights plan to hold Congress accountable for passing universal health care

MANCHESTER -- Senator John Edwards begins a new wave of New Hampshire television advertisements later today with an ad that features Edwards’ plan to hold Congress accountable for passing universal health care within six months after he takes office as President. The ad will run statewide.

“We all want universal health care – but just having a plan is not enough,” Edwards said. “We've seen plans fail before in Congress, and they will fail again unless we have a new approach. We have to be willing to take on the drug companies, insurance companies, and their Washington lobbyists who killed reform last time. But if you're defending the system, taking money from their lobbyists and giving them a seat at the table, reform is just not going to happen.”

On the first day of Edwards’ administration, he will submit legislation that ends health care coverage for the president, all members of Congress, and all senior political appointees in the legislative and executive branches of government on July 20th, 2009 – unless Congress has enacted universal health care reform.

Edwards will require Congress to pass universal health insurance that meets four principles: (1) It must be truly universal; (2) Anyone who has health care must be able to keep it and pay less for it; (3) Anyone who doesn’t have health care must get it, with help if they can’t afford it; (4) Doctors and patients, not insurance companies and HMOs, must have control over health care decisions.

The ad runs 30 seconds and is posted on Edwards’ webpage – http://www.johnedwards.com/watch/health-care-ad/. The transcript of the ad follows:

“When I’m president I’m going to say to members of Congress and members of my administration, including my cabinet: I’m glad that you have health care coverage and your family has health care coverage. But if you don’t pass universal health care by July of 2009 – in six months – I’m going to use my power as president to take your health care away from you. [Applause] There’s no excuse for politicians in Washington having health care when you don’t have health care. I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.”

Today’s announcement builds on Edwards’ growing momentum in New Hampshire over the past month, including:


• November 17: The Edwards campaign launches Young Granite Staters for Edwards at www.johnedwards.com/nh/youth.

• November 11: Edwards releases an 80-page policy book, The Plan to Build One America, and announces that more than 70,000 copies will be delivered to New Hampshire voters during ongoing statewide canvasses.

• November 9: The Edwards campaign announces 433 New Hampshire Women for Edwards as Cate Edwards and President Emeritus and Founder of NARAL Pro-Choice America Kate Michelman campaign across the state.

• October 31: Edwards earns the endorsement of the 10,000-member strong New Hampshire State Employees Association (SEIU Local 1984).

Posted by Michael McCord at 12:52 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

MCCAIN CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

MCCAIN CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN CHAIRS

MANCHESTER -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced over 342 town and city chairs across New Hampshire in support of John McCain. The chairs will identify and mobilize supporters in communities throughout the state to continue to build on John McCain's grassroots organization in New Hampshire.

"Unlike any other candidate John McCain understands the importance of building a strong grassroots organization in the Granite State," said Peter Spaulding, New Hampshire Chair of the McCain campaign. "John respects the tradition and value of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, a contest he intends to win, and he is the one candidate in the field who has the experience to lead our nation and the ability to lead a united Republican Party to victory in the general election."

John McCain thanked the chairs, stating, "I am encouraged and proud to have the support of so many distinguished community leaders. We will continue to look to each person for their leadership in communities across the state as we work toward victory in New Hampshire."

MCCAIN 2008 NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN CHAIRS

Belknap County

Judy Havenstein, Alton
Paul Landry, Barnstead
Billie-Jo Sweeney, Belmont
Bill Hett, Center Harbor
Phillis Corrigan, Gilford
John Vorel, Gilford
Judith Rayabeck, Laconia
Carl Johnson, Meredith
Sean Kenneally, Meredith
Erich Beyrent, New Hampton
Brian Cranton, Sanborton
David Perez, Tilton

Carroll County

Richard Wales, Albany
Rep. Gene Chandler, Bartlett
Merle Burke, Bartlett
Rep. Jim Martin, Brookfield
Richard Anderson, Chatham
Frank McCarthy, Conway
Commissioner Dave Sorenson, Eaton
Paul Wheeler, Freedom
Bill King, Hart's Location
Ross Heald, Jackson
Ed Foley, Madison
Henry and Linda Beyer, Moultonboro
Keith Farrar, Ossipee
Peter Prentice, Sandwich
Dan Poirier, Tamworth
Judy Daley, Tuftonboro
Marguerite Carrington, Wakefield
Rep. Dave Knox, Wolfeboro
Marge Wilson, Wolfeboro

Cheshire County

Erwin Ward, Alstead
Ken Woodward, Chesterfield
Elizabeth Langby, Dublin
Kate Metzger, Fitzwilliam
Gretchen Ziegler, Harrisville
Richard Lambert, Jaffery
William Beauregard, Keene
Arto Leino, Keene
Sherriff Richard Foote, Swanzey
Eric Stanley, Swanzey
Richard and Alice Dickinson, Richmond
Judy Seppala, Rindge
Samir Habiby, Swanzey
Edward Rice, Troy
Louis Kalesky, Walpole

Coos County

Sen. John Gallus, Berlin
Renney Morneau, Berlin
Allen Strasser, Carroll
John Moses, Clarksville
Gary Dinco, Colebrook
Rep. Fred King, Colebrook
Rep. Eric Stohl, Columbia
Ken Jordan, Dalton
Luc Cote, Errol
Bruce Lary, Gorham
Charles Bond, Jefferson
Norm Brown, Jefferson
Bill Remick, Lancaster
Lisa Perras, Northumberland
Sheridan Rodrique, Pittsburg
Maurice Champoux, Randolph
Harold Burns, W hitefield
Rep. John Tholl, Whitefield

Grafton County

Wesley Fortney, Alexandria
Harold "Skip" Reilly, Alexandria
Ernie Paquette, Ashland
Scott Moodie, Bath
Daniel Elliott, Benton
Shirley Briggs, Bethlehem
William Belser, Bristol
Hobart Harmon, Bristol
Rep. Burton Williams, Bristol
Christopher Dunstan, Campton
Robert Keay, Canaan
Mike Landry, Dorchester
Darrell Gearhart, Easton
Gilbert and Peggy Fanciullo, Enfield
Frank Neufell, Grafton
Joseph Bafumi, Hanover
Jerry Mitchell, Hanover
Sheriff Doug and Barbara Dutile, Haverhill
Beth Meyette, Haverhill
Ralph and Karyl Larson, Hebron
Sandra Perkins, Holderness
Mark Langdon, North Haverhill
John Roden, North Haverhill
John Rice, Landaff
Karen Cervantes, Lebanon
Dan Nash, Lebanon
Al Picconi Lebanon
Michael Dovholuk, Lincoln
John Northrop, Lisbon
Mike Gilman, Littleton
Brien Ward, Littleton
Deb Warner, Littleton
Roger and Chris B erger, Lyme
Linda and James Clark, Monroe
Charlie Sova, Orange
Larry Duffy, Orford
Bernie Marvin, Piermont
Scott Cathy, Plymouth
Allen Macneil, Plymouth
John Randlett, Plymouth
Adrian Vallieres, Rumney
Nick De Mayo, Sugar Hill
Clint Rand, Thornton
Keith Brown, Warren
Don Campbell, Wentworth
Bernie Campbell, West Lebanon
James Dean, West Lebanon

Hillsborough County

George Infanti, Amherst
Charlie Pyle, Amherst
Rep. Bob Rowe, Amherst
Carol Rymes, Antrim
John Cebrowski, Bedford
Jim Clemmons, Bedford
Evelyn Withee, Bedford
John LeFrancois, Bennington
Gail Novotny, Bennington
Edward Krom, Brookline
David & Nancy Cliffton, Deering
Dariel Peterson, Francestown
Natalie Sanderson, Francestown
Rep. Rip Holden, Goffstown
Aaron Kullgren, Greenfield
Mark Bradley, Greenville
Ann Bowes, Hancock
Jarvis & Bobbie Coffin, Hancock
Sheriff Walter Morse, Hillsborough-Windsor
Paul Sylvia, Hillsborough-Windsor
Marc Squires, Hollis
Roy Rumbaugh, Hudson
Debbie Glazier, Litchfield
Rep. Pam Coughlin, Lyndeborough-Mont Vernon
Tom & Norma McKinney, Lyndeborough-Mont Vernon
Rachel Peterson, Mason
Neal Capano, Manchester
Scott Caplain, Manchester
Robert Dastin, Manchester
Bill Golding, Manchester
Vic Goulet, Manchester
Keith Hirschmann, Ma nchester
Preston Lawrance, Manchester
Bill & Sharen Olender, Manchester
Leo Pepino, Manchester
Dr. Jeffrey Tolstad, Manchester
Kim Zachos, Manchester
Jack Balcom, Merrimack
Bob & Sally Kinney, Merrimack
Richard Maloon, Merrimack
Sen. Peter Bragdon, Milford
Steve Sareault, Milford
Karl Zahn, Milford
Nelson Allan, Nashua
Mark Cookson, Nashua
Scott Cote, Nashua
David Deane, Nashua
Robert Dion, Nashua
Da ve Fredette, Nashua
Wayne Gagne, Nashua
Bill Joransen, Nashua
Paul LaFlamme, Nashua
Will Landry, Nashua
Bill Machell, Nashua
Dave MacLaughlin, Nashua
Brian McCarthy, Nashua
Bill Mosher, Nashua
Dot Nice, Nashua
John & Kathy Palumbo, New Boston
Mayor Bernie Streeter, Nashua
John Young, New Boston
Shaun Doherty, Pelham
Sheriff Jim Hardy, Pelham
Brian McLarney, Pelham
Rep. Andy Peterson, Peterborough-Sharon
Allen Jowders, Wilton
David Roberge, Weare

Merrimack County

Peter Burdett, Allenstown, Bow
Stephanie Newbury, Boscawen
Shawn Spooner, Bradford
Jim Bassett, Canterbury
Kathryn Day, Canterbury
Charles Kupperman, Canterbury
Wayne & Ruth Mann, Canterbury
Karla Roth, Canterbury
Sherry Demers, Chichester
Curtis Barry, Concord
Peter Burger, Concord
Myril E. Cox, Concord
Mary Crump, Concord
Dan St. Hilaire, Concord
Jeremey Miller, Concord
Marsha Moran, Concord
Michael Panebianco, Concord
Dee Silfies, Concord
Greg Smith, Concord
George Waldron, Concord
Dr. Dennis Card, Dunbarton
Scott Murray, Dunbarton
Tony Saltani, Epsom
Bronwyn Asplund-Walsh, Franklin
Bill Grimm, Franklin
Rep. Dennis Reed, Franklin
Doug and Sue Robbins, Henniker
John Chandler, Hill
Brenda Dupuis, Hill
Tim Sweeney, Hooksett
Jane Bradstreet, Hopkinton
Joel Emlen, Hopkinton
John French, Hopkinton
Jim O'Brien, Hopkinton
Brian Silfies, Loudon
Dr. Dan Carlin, New London
Larry Ballin, New London
Dr. Dorothy Hitchmoth, New London
Steve Winter, Newbury
Sheriff Scott Hilliard, Northfield
David Liberatore, Northfield
Regina Baxter, Pembroke
Rob Johnson, Pittsfield
Chris and Alice Bentley, Salisbury
Sandy Nelson, Sutton
JD Colcord, Warner
Brian Milano, Webster
Peter Guest, Wilmot

Rockingham County

Steve Lewis, Atkinson
Commissioner Don Stritch, Auburn
Joanne Kenyon, Brentwood
Lisa and Mark Thompson, Brentwood
Leon Cyr, Candia
Rep. Gene and Dianna Charron, Chester
Kathy Eid, Danville
Paul Buffington, Deerfield
Rep. John Gleason, Derry
David Lee, Derry
Frank Sapareto, Derry
Al Wright, E. Kingston
Donald and Donna Oakes, Epping
Commissioner Maureen Barrows, Exeter
Dr. Dennis Derby, Exeter
Peter Bearse, Fremont
Michael Fitzgerald, Greenland
Butch and Kathy Ricci, Greenland
Jaye Dimando, Hampstead
Russ Bridle, Hampton
Rep. Nancy Stiles, Hampton
Joe and Alma Ripel, Kensington
Jim Thompson, Kensington
Polly Beaird, Hampton Falls
John Whittier, Kingston
Rep. Karen Hutchinson, Londonderry
Jim and Patrice Murray, Londonderry
Chief Joe Ryan, Londonderry
Dan Hughes, New Castle
Peter Rice, New Castle
Tom Gage, Newfields
Cynthia Cross, Newington
Bob Murray, Newmarket
Nicole Cook, Newton
Tom Markey, North Hampton
Shannan Brown, Northwood
Gail Powell, Nottingham
Roger Baribeau, Plaistow
Wayne Barrows, Portsmouth
Vincent Colella, Portsmouth
Jack Kelley, Portsmouth
Brad Lown, Portsmouth
Bill Wagner, Portsmouth
Greg Whalen, Portsmouth
Sen. Jack Barnes, Raymond
Sally Parody, Raymond
Rod Van Sciver, Rye
Peter Weeks, Rye
Bill Gilmore, Rye Beach
Janeen Dalrymple, Salem
Sen. Mike Downing, Salem
Chris Goodnow, Salem
Bob McGuire, Salem
Chris and Ruth-Ann Cooper, Sandown
Dot Dalton, Seabrook
Jay Levy, Stratham
Rep. Kevin and Kristin Waterhouse, Windham

Stafford County

George and Sandy Wattendorf, Barrington
Linda Condon, Barrington
Matt Mayberry, Dover
Dan Riss, Dover
Robert and Elaine Zubkus, Dover
Ken Young, Durham
Packy Campbell, Farmington
Shane Casimiro, Lee
Kevin Abbott, Madbury
Rick Huppe, Middleton
Bob Graham, Milton
Dan Steinbach, Milton
Paul Garland, New Durham
Jeremy Bradshaw, Rochester
Dan Wensley, Rochester
Mike Hill, Rollinsford
Heather Kre tchmar, Somersworth
Tom Brophy, Strafford
Charles Burnham, Strafford

Sullivan County

Kathy Moore, Charlestown
Don Clarke, Claremont
Chris Irish, Claremont
Alison and Keith Raymond, Claremont
Todd Ross, Goshen
Larry Fuller, Grantham
Steve Gray, Grantham
Royal Holmes, Langdon
Gordon Flint, Newport
Ron Purmont, Newport
Keith and Roanne Rogerson, Plainfield
Ellen Moore, Springfield
Donald Weatherson, Sunapee
Evelyn Boyce, Washington

Posted by Michael McCord at 05:15 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

CLINTON CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

NH Young Democrats’ President Gray Chynoweth

Endorses Clinton

Will Serve as National Co-chair of Hillblazers for Hillary

MANCHESTER – New Hampshire Young Democrats President Gray Chynoweth joined President Bill Clinton on stage at the National Young Democrats Convention tonight to announce his endorsement of Hillary Clinton. He will resign from his position effective Monday and serve as a National Co-Chair of Hillblazers for Hillary.

”I have come to believe that there is only one candidate, only one, that has the experience and the tenacity to make a difference in the lives of all Americans and who has what it takes to take on the Republicans and take back the White House. That candidate is Hillary Clinton,” said Chynoweth.

Hillary has demonstrated her commitment to the issues that matter most to America’s youth. She believes they have the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, pursue a higher education, purchase a home, enjoy a fulfilling career, afford childcare, and live in a country that holds the same stature in the world as America did when she was growing up. Recently, she introduced plans to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act and make college affordable.

“Today’s young people are tomorrow’s leaders and I am gratified to have the support of so many of them throughout the Granite State,” said Senator Clinton. “I am honored that Gray shares my vision for the future of our country and I will look to him to engage his peers throughout New Hampshire.. His hard work will help make this campaign a success.”

Earlier this month, NH for Hillary announced 352 student leaders on 10 campuses across the state of New Hampshire supporting Hillary. In addition, supporters have already started more than 120 Students for Hillary chapters in 37 states, and the campaign expects many more to begin in the coming weeks. The campaign also unveiled a Web site, www.hillblazers.com , which will serve as the principal organizing tool for students and other young voters. Chynoweth will be the first chair named to the National Hillblazers Steering Committee which is made up of young leaders from across the country

“There is no time to waste. I feel I must join in the fight to help elect Hillary Clinton as the next President of the United States. I have found that I care too much about this country and believe too much in the good that Hillary would do for all of us to just sit on the sidelines. We all must stand up now and get to work. And, I encourage every Young Democrat in New Hampshire and across the country to join Hillary's team in this campaign,” said Chynoweth.

Chynoweth has recently accepted a position as the legal counsel for Dynamic Network Services, Inc. (DynDNS) - a Manchester-based technology company. He is also a member of the executive board of the Manchester Young Professionals Network. His primary area of practice is real estate and he focuses on representing small and mid-sized business. Gray is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and earned his JD from Duke University.

Posted by Michael McCord at 03:46 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

CLINTON CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

NH for Hillary Announces Over 500 Veterans for Hillary

MANCHESTER, NH – Hillary continues to receive widespread and diverse support throughout the Granite State, and today the New Hampshire for Hillary campaign announced the names of 527 Veterans for Hillary.

“Hillary Clinton believes that once our soldiers have fulfilled their obligation to our country, our country must fulfill its obligation to them and to their families,” said Bob Hannan, Air Force veteran and Co-Chair of Veterans for Hillary. “She has worked diligently to see that the brave men and women who serve are our nation receive the benefits they have been promised.”

Hillary Clinton has a long history of fighting for our veterans. As President, she will enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st century that will offer service members, veterans and their families with expanded education, housing and entrepreneurial benefits. In addition, as President, Hillary will ensure that all of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans in this country has access to quality, affordable health care and will establish a pilot program on homelessness prevention for veterans. The program will provide subsidies, eviction prevention, and one-time assistance for veterans who fall behind on their rent.

“Senator Clinton has been a champion for proper treatment of our troops – while they are serving and when they return,” said State Representative and Air Force Veteran Eleanor Kjellman. “As a leader on the Senate Armed Services committee, she has successfully fought to ensure the troops receive proper training and necessary supplies, such as body armor. Hillary has also worked to make certain that our veterans receive quality medical care, and that they have access to educational and employment opportunities.

When Hillary Clinton is president, she will end the war in Iraq. Her three-step plan would bring our troops home, work to bring stability to the region, and replace military force with a new diplomatic initiative to engage countries around the world in securing Iraq's future. Hillary has also been fighting in the Senate to force the President to change course.

“I was registered as an independent for a long time and always explore every option before making a decision. After getting a chance to meet Hillary, my choice was clear,” said John Cesana of Hudson, who served 27 years in the Army and the Army Reserve. “She will listen to you. She will talk to you. And she will answer you. I know that she will be a leader who stands up for our nation’s troops.”

The New Hampshire for Hillary campaign also released a new video featuring local Veterans for Hillary. The video can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW08j6_glkU .

“I am honored to have the support of these men and women from across the Granite State who have so honorably served on our country’s behalf,” said Senator Clinton. “Together we will work to finally bring an end to the war in Iraq, rebuild America’s role in the world, and deliver on the promises made to the men and women who have served our country.”

Following is a complete list of Granite State Veterans for Hillary.

North Country

Rene Bisson, Berlin; Army

Normand Bouchard, Berlin

Frank Chapell, Berlin; Army

Raymond Croteau, Berlin; Navy

Francis Delorge, Berlin; Army

Maurice Duchesne, Berlin; Army

Normand Duclos, Berlin; Air Force

Lucien Dupuis, Berlin; Navy

Nancy Ehrig, Lancaster; Army

Karen Fesler, Bath

Paul Godin, Berlin; Air Force

John Graham, Franconia; Navy

Norman Grondin, Berlin; Navy

Lloyd Honnon, Gorham

Joseph Ippolito, Colebrook; Navy

Ivan Kennedy, Gorham; Army

Antonio Laflamme, Littleton; Army

Henry Lanteigne, Berlin

Donald Lapointe, Berlin; Air Force

Linda Lauer, Bath; Navy

Harold Leath, Berlin; Army

Gerard Lepage, Berlin; Navy

Robert Litvin, Berlin; Army

Robert Mainguy, Berlin; Navy

Rep. Edgar Mears, Berlin; Navy

Frank Morin, Berlin; Navy

Raymond Paradis, Milan; Navy

Robert Pepin, Berlin; Marines

Norman Perkins, Gorham; Army

Jules Poulin, Berlin; Army

Donald Rich, Milan

Henry Riendeau, Berlin; Army

Roland Roberge, Berlin; Army

Roland Roberge, Groveton; Air Force

Denis Roy, Milan

Roland Roy, Berlin; Marines

Bradford Whipple, Sugar Hill

Paul Wilson, Groveton;

Stephen Woodcock, Conway

Claremont

Robert Deline, Claremont;

Theobald Frechette, Claremont; Canadian Army

Carroll French, Langdon

Brian Johnson, Claremont; Navy

Norman Monroe, Claremont; Air Force

Eileen Skowronski, Claremont

Concord Area

Brian Bailey, Henniker

Kenneth Barrett, Concord

Roy Baum, Chichester

Joseph Belliveau, Contoocook; Navy

Norman Boudreau, Pembroke; Marines

William Brasley, Pembroke; Army, Tank Destroyers Battalion

William Campbell, New London; Navy

Norman Dennis, Henniker; Army

Roy Downes, Salisbury; National Guard

Arthur Ducharme, Greenfield; Air Force

Robert Dyment, Pembroke; Army

Stephen Enroth, North Sutton

Leonard Gilman, Pittsfield; Marines

Lane Gorton, Bennington; Army

Warren Greenough, Concord; Navy

Alan Hall, Contoocook; Navy

Dennis Hewitt, Allenstown; Coast Guard

Willis Hill, Concord; Navy

John Hoar, Concord

William Kelso, Canterbury; Air Force

Rep. Eleanor Kjellman, Henniker; Air Force

William Kuhlman, Concord; Navy, Air Force

Bruce Lebrun, Penacook; Marines

Thelma Lemire, Franklin; Marines

Murray Loss, Hillsborough

Ernest Mahar, Franklin; Navy

Richard Martell, Allenstown; Army

John Michaud, Concord; Navy

Robert Miner, Epsom; Army

Henry Mowatt, Concord; Army

Mary Mowatt, Concord; Navy Nurse

Tudor Richards, Contoocook

Paul Riel, Pittsfield; Air Force

Zach Roberts, Henniker; Marines

Terry Shumaker, Bow; JAG Corps

William Stiles, Pittsfield; Army

Frank Taylor, Hillsborough; Army

Charles Trowbridge, Bradford; Navy, Army

Walter Valley, Hillsborough; Air Force

Frederick Wolf, Concord; Army National Guard

Carl Wyss, Chichester

Arthur Zirngiebel, Chichester; Army

Dover Area

Robert Beaudoin, Somersworth; Marines

Roland Belhumeur, Dover

Raymond Bernard, Newmarket; Marine

Rep. Roger Berube, Somersworth; Navy

William Caldwell, Dover; Marines

Jay Dean, Dover; Air Force

Charles Dearborn, Newmarket; National Guard

Hector Desjardins, Dover; Navy

Dennis Flanagan, Somersworth; Army

Ronald Forbes, Dover; Navy

Armand Gagnon, Somersworth; Navy

Rep. Earle Goodwin, Dover

Ludwik Goscinski, Somersworth; Navy

Bob Hannan, Dover; Air Force

Rep. Roland Hofemann, Dover; Air Force

James Knowles, Dover

Rep. William Knowles, Dover; Air Force

Dorothy Lafont, Lee; Air Force

Edward Larrabee, Dover; Navy

Ken Latchaw, Dover; Navy

William Linchey, Dover; Navy

Robert McGloan, Dover

Albert Moreau, Dover; Army Air Corps

Philippe Morrissette, Dover; Navy

Raymond Morse, Dover; Army

Brian Murphy, Newmarket; Army

Frank Pasternak, Somersworth; Marines

Henry Pike, Dover; Army

John Rubino, Dover; Air Force

William Shaheen, Madbury

Eugene Tillock, Durham; Army

Maurice Ward, Somersworth; Army

Keene Area

Donald Anderson, Jaffrey; Army Medical Corps

Richard Beauregard, Jaffrey

David Belletete, Swanzey; Afghanistan Veteran

Paul Burnham, Jaffrey; Army

Michael Carbone, Keene

Raymond Constantine, Jaffrey

Philip Croteau, Keene

Gerald Elliott, Jaffrey; Navy

Gilbert Evans, Keene; Army

Sherwood Jackson, Stoddard; Army

Raymond Johnson, Keene; Marines

Robert Kennedy, Winchester; Navy

John Lafreniere, Jaffrey; Army

Arthur Lienhardt, Jaffrey; Army

Lionel Lortie, Keene; Army

Harry Martin, Hinsdale; Medical Corps

James Murphy, Jaffrey; Air Force

Joseph Poisson, Keene; Navy

Leo Richard, Swanzey; Army

James Rounds, Winchester; Army

Wendell Roye, Keene; Army

William Russell, Winchester; Army, Tank Destroyer Battallion

Harry Scott, North Walpole; Navy

Charles Stroble, Swanzey; Air Force

David Swenson, Keene; NSA

John Trubiano, Keene

Raymond Wallace, Jaffrey; Army

Jerome Weinrieb, Swanzey; Army Air Corps

Lakes Region

Arthur Betourne, Belmont; Navy

George Bridgeman, Laconia

Peter Casey, Gilmanton

Louis Dall, Barnstead; Marines

Duke Dawalga, Tilton; Air Force

William Donovan, Gilmanton; Army

Donald Frost, Gilford; Navy

Robert Giguere, Laconia; Navy

Eugene Greenwood, Belmont; Marines

George Houle, Laconia; Army, Air Force

Robert Meredith, Center Barnstead; Army

Philip Moreau, Gilford; Air Force

Joseph Prisco, Alton; Air Force

Richard Sanderson, New Hampton; Air Force

James Sycovaris, Gilford

Israel Willard, Gilmanton; Marines

Derry Area

Bernard Bowie, Hampstead; Navy

Gerald Brand, Derry

Vincent Callahan, Sandown

Calvin Cameron, West Chesterfield; Army

Robert Celeste, Derry; Army

George Chaloux, Derry; Navy

Milton Christian, Derry

Alberto Frasca, Derry

Donald Gagne, Derry; Navy

Frederick Gresch, Hampstead

Melvin Heidt, Londonderry; Navy

Jeffrey Jones, Derry; Marines

Mary Jones, Derry; Navy

Haigaz Krikorian, Derry; Army

Andrew Laroche, E Hampstead; Navy

Joseph Longey, Chester

William Mafera, Derry; Marines

Francis Mahoney, Hampstead

William Malatesta, Chester

Joseph Marston, Derry; Army Air Corps

Robert McRobbie, Derry

Daniel Mulhall, Sandown; Army

Norman Page, Derry; Army

Ken Putney, Sandown

Ernest Rutherford, Chester; Air Force

Joel Saren, East Hampstead; Marines

Charles Shapiro, Londonderry; Army Air Corps

Daniel Shelpman, Derry

Justin Sidley, Derry; Navy

Tim Siekmann, Londonderry

John Sullivan, Londonderry; Army

William Timledge, Sandown; Marines

Manchester Area

John Balon, Bedford

Francis Bartula, Manchester; Navy

Joseph Beauregard, Goffstown; Army Air Corps

Dennis Beer, Auburn

Edward Bellemare, Bedford

Joseph Bennett, Manchester; Army

Ronald Bissonnette, Goffstown; Navy, Army

Roger Bleau, Manchester; Army

William Block, Manchester

Roger Boisvert, Manchester

Edward Bolton, Manchester; Marines

Robert Boudreau, Manchester

Norman Bouley, Auburn; Army Reserve

Rene Bourque, Manchester; Navy

Maurice Breton, Hooksett; Navy

Richard Bruner, Bedford; Navy

Howard Bugbee, Goffstown; Army

Joan Burgan, Manchester; Navy

Peter Burkush, Manchester; Army Air Corps

Louis Buxton, Manchester; Army

William Carbone, Manchester

Hon. William Cashin, Manchester

William Cavanaugh, Auburn; Air Force

Philip Chaplain, Bedford; Army, Tank Destroyers Battalion

Andrew Cohen, Manchester; Maine Air National Guard

Floyd Colburn, Weare

Ernest Corey, Manchester

Armand Cote, Hooksett

John Coyne, Manchester

Robert Dennis, Manchester

Pierre Dezainde, Manchester; Army

Eugene Donati, Hooksett; Army Medical Corps

Maurice Doyle, Manchester; Army

Romeo Dubreuil, Manchester; Navy

Gilbert Estey, Candia; Army

Edgar Faucher, Manchester; Army

Joseph Fielding, Manchester; Army

Rene Flurey, Manchester; Marines

Melvin Fogle, Manchester; Navy

Louis Foskin, Manchester; Army

John Frain, Weare; Army

Richard French, Manchester; Navy

Hildred Gardner, Manchester

Vincent Giambartolome, Bedford; Navy

Peter Giampa, Manchester

Roland Gionet, Manchester; Air Force

Anthony Gordon, Raymond; Army Engineers

George Guimond, Manchester; Army

Donald Hartley, Bedford; Coast Guard

Richard Hayes, Manchester; Army Air Corps

Albert Heggelund, Auburn; Marines, Army

Walter Ingaharro, Candia; Marines

Bruce Johanson, Manchester; Navy

David Johnson, Manchester; Army

Walter Joyce, Manchester

Nicholas Kacavas, Manchester; Navy

Nicholas Kalipolites, Manchester

John Kapp, Manchester; Marines

Hon. John King, Manchester; Navy

James King, Manchester; Air Force

Merton King, Hooksett; Army

Thomas King, Manchester

Charles Kokkinos, Manchester; Army

Dennis Kounas, Candia; Air Force

Stanley Kuzia, Manchester

Roland Laflamme, Manchester; Army

Gerard Lagasse, Manchester

Thomas Lambert, Manchester; Army

Roger Lang, Manchester; Navy

Ralph Lavallee, Goffstown; Army

Robert Ledoux, Hooksett

Robert Legasse, Manchester; Army

Gerard Lemay, Manchester; Navy

Normand Lemay, Manchester; Air Force

Lucien Lemire, Manchester

Robert Leonard, Manchester; Army Air Corps

Menelaos Lianos, Manchester; Army

John Mahoney, Manchester; Air Force

Pete Manning, Manchester; Iraq Veteran

Patricia McCarthy, Manchester; Women's Land Army

Arthur McCloskey, Manchester; Army

Richard McDonough, Manchester

John McNally, Manchester; Navy, Air Force

Ralph Mehlhorn, Manchester; Army Air Corps

John Morakis, Manchester; Army

Angel Morales, Candia

Hugh Muir, Manchester; Marines

Franklin Neddeau, Manchester; Army

Edward Newdorf, Manchester; Army Air Corps

Denis Norton, Hooksett; Navy

Nassery Noufel, Manchester; Air Force

Frederick Oconnor, Manchester; Air Force

Felix Ostrouch, Manchester; Army Air Corps

Bertrand Ouellette, Auburn; Air Force

Thomas Padden, Manchester; Army

Edgar Paquin, Hooksett; Army

Mark Pare, Manchester

Emile Pinard, Manchester; Air Force

Marcel Pinard, Manchester; Navy

Frank Pizzutillo, Manchester; Army

Robert Platek, Manchester; Air Force

Philip Plentzas, Manchester; Marines

Eugene Prest, Hooksett; Navy

Paul Proulx, Manchester; Air Force

George Provost, Manchester; Navy

Richard Querze, Manchester; Air Force

Roger Raiche, Bedford

Alfred Ranger, Manchester; Air Force

Lionel Reed, Manchester; Air Force

Frank Reidy, Manchester; Army

David Rennie, Manchester; Navy

Alfred Richardson, Manchester

Antonio Roberge, Manchester; Army

David Roche, Manchester; Navy

Frederick Rose, Candia

Charles Rossier, Merrimack

Vincent Roukey, Manchester; Marines

Henry Royer, Manchester; Army

Bernard Rubin, Manchester; Army

Joe Saxon, Candia

George Shapiro, Merrimack; Navy

William Silakos, Manchester; Army

Arthur St Cyr, Manchester; Navy

Armand Talbot, Goffstown; Navy

Marcel Talbot, Manchester; Air Force

Barbara Allen Upton, Bedford

Napoleon Vachon, Manchester; Navy

William Watts, Manchester; Army

Francis Weber, Candia

Russell Zela, Manchester; Army

Nashua Area

Michael Atkins, Lyndeborough; JAG Corps

Raymond Barriault, Hudson; OSS

Thomas Barry, Nashua

Roland Bedard, Hudson

Gerard Belanger, Hudson

Gordon Bennett, Amherst

Frederick Bieber, Hudson; Royal Canadian Air Force

Roy Blaisdell, Nashua

Paul Bleau, Nashua; Air Force

Robert Boggis, Nashua; Army

Charles Boghigian, Nashua

Alfred Bouchard, Nashua; Army

Janice Bouchard, Nashua; Air Force

Raymond Brousseau, Hudson

Wilfred Cabana, Peterborough; Air Force

Lee Caron, Nashua; Navy and Army

Michael Cascini, Hudson; Army

John Cesana, Hudson; Army, former commander Hudson VFW Post

Robert Cloutier, Hudson; Marines

Roger Cloutier, Nashua; Air Force

Demetrios Coutsonikas, Nashua

Grant Dearborn, Hudson; Navy

Albert Desrosiers, Hudson

Benjamin Devoid, Milford

Raymond Dionne, Hudson; Navy

Paul Donovan, Peterborough; Air Force

Raymond Drouin, Hudson; Navy

Irving Dunckelman, Peterborough; Army

John Dunn, Hollis; British Navy

John Ferbert, Hudson; Army

Robert Fish, Nashua

John Galbo, Nashua; Army

David Geoffrey, Peterborough; Army

James Gorman, Nashua

Rep. Paul Hackel, Nashua

Alfred Haley, Hudson; Air Force

Paul Haskell, Hudson; Navy

Edmund Henault, Peterborough; Navy

Raymond Hewey, Nashua; Air Force

Stephen Homoleski, Brookline; Air Force

James Kearns, Hudson

Richard Keating, Milford

Laurie Keller, Nashua; Army Artillery

Keith Killgren, Nashua; National Guard, Afghanistan Veteran

Kenneth King, Peterborough; Army

Thomas Kostoulakos, Nashua; National Guard

Maurice Labrie, Nashua; Army

Peter Lachapelle, Nashua; Navy

Raymond Lafleur, Hudson; Army

Roland Lefebvre, Nashua; Air Force, Former Commander Nashua VFW Post

Joseph Lessard, Peterborough; Air Force

Theodore Lessard, Nashua; Army

Normand Loranger, Nashua; Army

Maynard Maddocks, Hudson; Marines

Peter Markiewicz, Nashua; Army

Bernard Martin, Nashua

John McKillop, Nashua; Army

Gerald McMillan, Hudson; Army

Fernand Morin, Hudson; Army

James Myers, Hudson; Navy

Julius Narkunas, Nashua; Army Air Corps

Armand Nourie, Nashua; Army

Nathaniel Ober, New Ipswich

Gerald Olsen, Nashua; Army

David Otte, Hudson; Army

Richard Ouellette, Nashua; Air Force

Richard Palmer, Hudson; Army

John Pappas, Nashua

Frank Parker, Nashua; Army

Hedley Parsons, Mont Vernon; Army, Field Artillery

David Phillips, Nashua; Air Force

Eugene Potterton, Hudson; Navy

Gary Price, Mont Vernon; Air Force

Peggy Price, Mont Vernon; Air Force

George Rancourt, Hudson; Air Force

Joseph Reid, Nashua; Navy

Hugh Roberts, Amherst; Navy

Normand Rochette, Nashua; Air Force

Victor Schulze, Nashua; Navy and Army

James Shea, Peterborough; Air Force

Donald Tharp, Hudson; Army

Gareth Vincent, Hudson

Michael Bannan, Bristol; Air Force

Charles Buhrman, Plymouth

Richard Carrara, Hebron; Air Force

Aurol Chaisson, Ashland; Air Force

Jules Doner, Campton

Rep. Carole Estes, Plymouth

Everett Jesseman, Piermont; Army Engineers

John Northrup, Campton; Air Force

John Scarborough, Plymouth; Marines

Valerie Scarborough, Plymouth; Marines

John Townsend, Plymouth; Navy

Seacoast

Andrew Tuttle, Bristol; Army

Robert Allen, Kingston; Navy

Guy Arno, Hampton; Navy

John Arno, Portsmouth; Army

Eugene Balthaser, Greenland

Roger Beaupre, Epping; Army

Walter Belkovicz, Brentwood

Mary Bishop, Hampton; Navy

Leeman Boston, Portsmouth; Marines

Diane Botzum, Hampton

Thomas Bridge, Hampton; Air Force

Charles Burrill, Kingston; Navy

Wesley Calder, Greenland; Marines

Robert Casazza, Hampton; Navy

Edward Cassidy, Hampton; Army

Carlos Castro, Portsmouth; Army

Manuel Chavez, Portsmouth

Thomas Conway, Hampton

Paul Cote, Exeter; Army

Louis Defazio, Seabrook

Joseph Doucette, Newton

John Duffin, Hampton; Navy

Gary Flood, Epping; Army

William French, Hampton; Marines

Rodney Gagnon, Exeter

Patricia Gormley, Portsmouth; Marines, Navy

Armand Hebert, Hampton

Richard Hollihan, Portsmouth

Jerome Jean, Epping; Army

Donald Lavallee, Hampton; Army

F Marshall, Stratham; Navy

Richard McCleary, Portsmouth; Air Force

Frank McEachern, Hampton; Navy

Robert Merrick, Kingston; Army

Vincent Michniewich, Portsmouth; Army Air Corps

Richard Mills, Portsmouth; Army

Skip Mobbs, Portsmouth; Air Force

George Novell, Epping; Army

Robert Parshley, Kingston; Army

Edwin Pecker, Kingston; Navy

Leonard Pufahl, Portsmouth; Air Force

Charles Rogers, Rye; Navy

James Schlough, Stratham; Marines

John Senter, Epping; Navy

Howard Sloan, Epping; Air Force

Roger Soucy, Epping; Army

Henry Sullivan, Hampton

Joseph Verna, Portsmouth; Army

Stuart Vogel, Exeter

Thomas Weisensee, Epping; Navy

Melvin Wilt, Hampton

Donald Yemma, East Kingston; Navy

Rochester Area

Leonard Arkerson, Middleton; Navy

Arthur Beane, Rochester; Air Force

Manuel Blattstein, Rochester; Army

Robert Breton, Rochester; Seabees

Rep. George Brown, Rochester

Richard Canney, Farmington; Army

Harry Colbath, Farmington; Marines

William Coyne, Barrington

Rep. James Cyr, Strafford

Albert Doak, Farmington; Navy

Armand Dostie, Rochester

Roland Dubois, Rochester; Navy

Claire Fabiano, Rochester; Navy

James Fabiano, Rochester; Navy

Barry Flanagan, Rochester; Navy

George Fleming, Barrington

Robin Flockerzi, Rochester; Marines, Air National Guard

Walter Goodale, Rochester; Army

Lawrence Grassi, Barrington; Navy

Bradford Harrington, Rochester; Army

Roland Lefebvre, Rochester; Army

Bernard McGlone, Farmington; Navy

Kenneth Neal, Farmington; Army

George Nichols, Rochester; Army

Wayne Perreault, Barrington

Carmel Radwan, Rochester; Navy

Eugene Risso, Barrington; Navy

Louis Ryan, Middleton; Army

Carl Stanley, Rochester; Army, Air Force

Harold Surago, Farmington; Army

Norman Talbot, Rochester; Marines

Thomas Taylor, Farmington; Navy

Valmore Vachon, Rochester; Army

Rogers Ward, Rochester; Army

Salem Area

Raymond Busta, Atkinson; Army

William Connell, Atkinson; Navy

John Cronin, Pelham; Army

Harley Featherston, Salem

Jerome Gosselin, Salem; Army

Raymond Harmacinski, Salem; Navy

William Knoop, Pelham; Air Force

Robert Leslie, Salem; Marines

Charles Mooskian, Pelham; Navy, Commander, Pelham VFW Post

Christos Payos, Salem; Air Force

Everett Smith, Atkinson; Air Force

James Thomas, Atkinson; Air Force

Jerry Burt, Plainfield

William Ellis, Grafton

Robert Ells, Orange

Hon. Ralph Hough, Grantham

Victor Kaplan, Hanover

Irving Ligeti, Lebanon; Air Force

Paul McNamara, West Lebanon; Air Force

Allan Monica, Lebanon; Marines

Eugene Seiffert, Enfield

Howard Shaffer, Enfield

John Stevens, Lebanon; Air Force

Posted by Michael McCord at 04:01 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

ARLINGTON, Va. -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released a new television ad, entitled "Outrageous," to run statewide in New Hampshire and in the Boston market. The new ad focuses on John McCain's commitment to ending wasteful pork-barrel spending in Washington.

John McCain, named a "Taxpayer Hero" by Citizens Against Government Waste, has led the fight against wasteful spending. Time Magazine said McCain has "spent his entire Senate career exposing wasteful pork-barrel projects" while National Journal called him a "longtime foe of pork-barrel spending."

Long before it was politically popular, John McCain was leading a tough and often lonely fight against pork-barrel spending and government waste. McCain was an original co-sponsor of the Line Item Veto more than a decade ago and routinely votes against irresponsible spending bills. McCain was one of only four senators to vote against the pork-laden Highway Bill that contained the infamous "bridge to nowhere."

As John McCain said in New Hampshire this weekend, "It's pretty clear that Senator Clinton is running for president to continue business as usual. I'm running for president to put the business as usual crowd out of business."

VIEW THE NEW AD HERE: http://www.johnmccain.com/tvads/

VIEW THE YOUTUBE VIDEO HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TR5079To9Y

Script for "Outrageous" (:30-TV)

ANNCR: 233 million for a bridge to nowhere.

Outrageous.

3 million to study the DNA of bears in Montana.

Unbelievable.

A million dollars for a Woodstock Museum -- in a bill sponsored by Hillary Clinton.

Predictable.

Who has the guts to stand up to wasteful government spending?

One man.

John McCain.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'll stop wasteful spending by Congress. And restore Americans' trust in their government.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

John McCain Is A Longtime Opponent Of Pork-Barrel Spending

John McCain Named A Lifetime "Taxpayer Hero" By Citizens Against Government Waste. (Citizens Against Government Waste Website, www.cagw.org , Accessed 11/12/07)

In 2006, Pork Busters, A Collaboration Of Fiscal-Watchdog Groups, Labeled John McCain An "Anti-Pork Hero." (Porkbusters' Website, porkbusters.org , 5/4/06, Accessed 3/20/07)

Time Magazine: "[John McCain] has spent his entire Senate career exposing wasteful pork-barrel projects." (Massimo Calabresi and Perry Bacon Jr., "America's 10 Best Senators," Time, 4/24/06)

National Journal: "[McCain is] a longtime foe of pork barrel spending." (David Baumann, "Finding It Hard to Say No,'" National Journal, 7/13/02)

National Review's Ramesh Ponnuru: "[McCain] has been tough on spending, and been willing to ally with the most conservative members of the Senate to fight earmarks. He has been a stalwart free trader ... Curbing the growth of entitlements, he says, will be one of his top priorities as president. He has long supported personal accounts." (Ramesh Ponnuru, "The Coming McCain Moment," National Review, 3/9/07)

Former Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX): "To ask if he would really take on the spending establishment that runs Congress is to ask if water will wet, if fire will burn. If you want to end the spending spree in Washington, he is your man." (Phil Gramm, Op-Ed, "Why John McCain," The Wall Street Journal, 2/20/07)

Bob Novak: "If party leaders in Congress at long last heed McCain's counsel [on spending], it would mark the beginning of wisdom." (Robert Novak, Op-Ed, "Republican Blindness," The Washington Post, 11/9/06)

John McCain Has Routinely Voted Against Irresponsible Spending Bills

John McCain Was One Of Only Four Senators To Vote Against Pork-Laden Highway Bill Which Contained The Infamous "Bridge To Nowhere." (H.R. 3, CQ Vote #220: Adopted 91-4: R 48-4; D 42-0; I 1-0, 7/29/05, McCain Voted Nay)

· John McCain: "This monstrosity of a conference report which costs an astounding $286.4 billion is both terrifying in its fiscal consequences and disappointing for the lack of fiscal discipline it represents." (Sen. John McCain, "Statement Of Senator John McCain On Conference Report Accompanying H.R. 3, SAFETEA-LU," Press Release, 7/29/05)

John McCain Voted Against The FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations Bill, Stuffed With Over $11 Billion In Pork-Barrel Spending. (H.R. 2673, CQ Vote #3: Adopted (Thus Cleared For The President) 65-28: R 44-4; D 21-23 (ND 14-22, SD 7-1); I 0-1 1/22/04, McCain Voted Nay)

· John McCain: "Americans have heard much about the growing problem of identity theft. Mr. President, what we have before us is perhaps the most costly case of identity theft imaginable. It appears that the big spenders in Washington have all but stolen the credit card numbers of every hard-working taxpayer in America and gone on a limitless spending spree for parochial, pork-barrel projects, leaving the taxpayers to pay and pay." (Sen. John McCain, "Statement Of Senator John McCain On The FY 04 Omnibus," Press Release, 1/22/04)

John McCain Voted Against The Medicare Prescription Drug Bill, Which Constituted The Largest Expansion In Entitlement Spending Since The Inception Of Medicare In 1965. (H.R. 1, CQ Vote #262: Passed 76-21: R 40-10; D 35-11; I 1-0, 6/27/03, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 1, CQ Vote #459: Adopted 54-44: R 42-9; D 11-35; I 1-0, 11/25/03, McCain Voted Nay)

John McCain Has Long Fought For Line Item Veto

"In 1996, McCain Won A 10-Year Battle To Enact The Line-Item Veto, But The Supreme Court Declared The Law Unconstitutional Two Years Later." (Lorraine Woellert, "Searching For The Real McCain," Newsweek, 11/22/99)

2006: John McCain Was Original Co-Sponsor Of Legislative Line Item Veto Act Of 2006. (S. 2381, Introduced 3/7/06)

2006: John McCain Introduced Separate Enrollment and Line Item Veto Act of 2006. (S. 2443, Introduced 3/16/06)

John McCain: "Give the President the same authority that 43 Governors use in their States: the right to reach into massive appropriation bills, pare away the waste, and enforce budget discipline. Let's approve the line-item veto." (Sen. John McCain, "McCain Statement On Line Item Veto Bill," Press Release, 3/16/06).

Posted by Michael McCord at 02:55 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

DURING ‘PROMISE OF A BETTER AMERICA’ WEEK, JOHN EDWARDS UNVEILS FIVE-POINT PLAN TO REFORM SYSTEM FOR TREATING AMERICAN VETERANS SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

In observance of Veterans’ Day, Edwards discusses plan to restore sacred contract between our government and our veterans

MANCHESTER – Today at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, NH, John Edwards unveiled a five-point plan to reform our nation’s system for treating veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A recent study found the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for PTSD from the Department of Veterans Affairs increased by nearly 20,000—almost 70%—in the year ending in June 2007. Today, as we observe Veterans’ Day across the country, Edwards proposed a comprehensive plan to address the difficulties that veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan currently face in receiving treatment for PTSD.

Edwards’ plan would:

Increase the time that service members spend at home between tours of duty
Improve resources, training and outreach to help eliminate the stigma associated with PTSD
Aggressively resolve the backlog of PTSD claims currently faced by the VA
Provide a comprehensive medical examination for each service member upon his or her departure from the service
Create a new national chain of care to ensure that no veteran’s medical care falls through the cracks

“Addressing the shocking increase in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder is an urgent moral issue,” Edwards said. “Warriors should never be ashamed to deal with the personal consequences of war. When our service men and women sacrifice so much to defend our freedom and secure peace around the world, we have a moral obligation to take care of them and their families. Our troops have risked their lives to fulfill the promise of a better America that we all believe in. We must stand by those who stand by us.”

In Plymouth, Edwards was introduced by former Army Captain Drew Sloan who served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan despite being badly injured in a Humvee attack in Afghanistan in 2004. After a year and a half of surgeries and physical therapy, Sloan returned to Iraq to continue serving his country.

Below, please find the full fact sheet on John Edwards’ plan to address the treatment of PTSD.

John Edwards: A Five-Point Plan for PTSD

“Addressing the shocking increase in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder is an urgent moral issue. I believe in restoring the sacred contract between our country and America’s veterans and military families. We must stand by those who stand by us. When our service men and women sacrifice so much to defend our freedom and secure peace around the world, we have a moral obligation to take care of them and their families.”

-- John Edwards

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in an enormous human cost for America’s service men and women and their families. A recent study found the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Department of Veterans Affairs increased nearly 20,000—almost 70%—in the year ending in June 2007. PTSD is also one of the causes of the alarming rate of homelessness among our veterans—26% of veterans today are homeless. The PTSD crisis is one of the most egregious results of the Bush Administration’s mismanagement of the war in Iraq, where accelerated deployments and inadequate battle plans have put our troops and their families at risk. And it is another reason we should avoid another so-called “preventive war” in Iran, which will make force an option no longer of last resort, at a time when we can ill afford to place our troops under even greater stress. [USA Today, 2007; New York Times, 2007]

Senator John Edwards strongly believes we must restore the sacred contract we have with our veterans and their families, and that we must begin by reforming our system for treating PTSD. As president, Edwards will enact the following five-point plan for PTSD:

Give service members more time at home. The ideal “dwell-time” between deployments is twice as much time at home as on tour. Inadequate dwell time leads to higher levels of PTSD, as soldiers have too little time to recuperate, aggravating any mental stress from service in the field. The Bush Administration has extended tours to 15 months, with troops given too little time at home in between deployments. Troops have also been redeployed with PTSD—a problem even the Bush Administration has described as “daunting and growing.” As president, Senator Edwards will avoid deployment patterns likely to lead to higher levels of PTSD. He will also avoid reckless military decisions like a so-called “preventive war” with Iran that could hurt our troops and their families. [Veterans for America 2007; DOD Task Force on Mental Health, 2007].

Improve resources, training, and outreach: We must refocus our attention on PTSD and remove the stigma that too long has been associated with the disorder. A warrior should not be ashamed to get treatment for the personal consequences of the experience of war. Too often, however, veterans have a difficult time getting counseling because there are not enough trained counselors in the TRICARE and VA networks. Veterans also sometimes avoid getting care within the networks because of the stigma associated with PTSD. Edwards will act to remove the stigma from PTSD, increase counseling resources within the TRICARE and VA networks and will permit veterans to access counseling outside of the networks. Edwards will also improve training for health personnel to recognize and treat PTSD and establish uniform standards for mental health care. Finally, he will ensure outreach is extended to family members, who can help recognize symptoms of PTSD and help their loved ones get the help they need.

Aggressively resolve the claim backlog: The VA currently has a backlog between 400,000 and 600,000 claims, and wait times for initial determinations of up to 6 months. This means that veterans with PTSD have to suffer longer. Edwards will adopt an aggressive, goal-oriented approach to processing the backlog. As president, he will process the entire backlog that exists when he takes office by Memorial Day 2009, and will cut the average processing time in half. [CNN 2007].

Provide a comprehensive medical examination: Too often, veterans receive their first medical examination months or even years after they leave the service, which makes it difficult to ascertain whether an injury is service-related, creating difficulties and inefficiencies later. As president, Edwards will create a new system providing each service member with a comprehensive, standardized medical examination immediately upon leaving the service, and will link that examination with the disability rating. Both will be included in a new “Homefront Redeployment Plan” every veteran will receive.

A national chain of care: Once our service members become veterans, we have to make sure the system doesn’t fail them. As president, Edwards will create a new national chain of care to ensure that no veteran again falls through the cracks. Because many veterans receive treatment outside the VA system, this chain will coordinate treatment and benefits in outreach centers and clinics in every county where a veteran resides, both within and outside the VA network.

Posted by Michael McCord at 01:22 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

BIDEN CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

BIDEN DELIVERS MAJOR ADDRESS ON PAKISTAN

MANCHESTER – This morning at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in Manchester, Sen. Joe Biden delivered a major foreign policy address calling for a “new approach to Pakistan.” Below are excerpts from the speech. Attached to this release is a copy of Sen. Biden’s entire address as prepared for delivery.

“Pakistan has strong democratic traditions and a large, moderate majority. But that moderate majority must have a voice in the system and an outlet with elections. If not, moderates may find that they have no choice but to make common cause with extremists, just as the Shah’s opponents did in Iran three decades ago.

“But unlike Iran, Pakistan already has nuclear weapons.

”It is hard to imagine a greater nightmare for America than the world’s second-largest Muslim nation becoming a failed state in fundamentalist hands, with an arsenal of nuclear weapons and a population larger than those of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea combined.

“To prevent that nightmare from becoming a reality, I believe we need to do three things:

“First, deal pro-actively with the current crisis. Second, and for the longer term, move from a Musharraf policy to a Pakistan policy that gives the moderate majority a chance to succeed. And third, help create conditions in the region that maximize the chances of success, and minimize the prospects for failure.”

…

“It is time for a new approach.

“We’ve got to move from a transactional relationship -- the exchange of aid for services -- to the normal, functional relationship we enjoy with all of our other military allies and friendly nations.

“We’ve got to move from a policy concentrated on one man – President Musharraf – to a policy centered on an entire people… the people of Pakistan.

“Like any major policy shift, to gain long-term benefits we’ll have to shoulder short term costs. But given the stakes, those costs are worth it.”

Posted by Michael McCord at 12:15 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

DODD CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

A CONTRACT HONORED: CHRIS DODD UNVEILS VETERANS PLAN

MANCHESTER - Today, Senator and Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd unveiled his veterans plan, which promises to make the safety and well-being of our veterans a top priority in his administration. Having served in the National Guard and Army Reserve, Dodd has a strong record of fighting for our nation's servicemen and women.
"We have few higher priorities than the safety and well-being of our veterans - Americans who have fought and sacrificed for our values and nation," Dodd said. "Yet today, troops that are returning home, and that have returned home, are not getting the medical support that they need and deserve. Wounded troops are increasingly relying on help from loved ones as they recuperate from devastating war injuries. Bureaucratic red-tape and substandard conditions at medical facilities like Walter Reed Hospital are blocking troops' access to veteran's benefits and the highest quality of care. Meanwhile, military families are making unbelievable sacrifices for months, even years, at a time."
In New Hampshire, Dodd's campaign released the following names of New Hampshire veterans supporting Chris Dodd. Patrick Clark of Tilton serves as the Chairman of Veterans of Dodd. Other veterans include: Leo Balzano (Nashua), Kathryn Braun (Fremont), Jim Craig (Manchester), Michael Duclos (Rochester), Peter Hope (Grantham), State Representative Frank Sullivan (Manchester), Former State Representative Cynthia Sweeney (Charlestown), and Bill Trumble (Madbury).
In a Dodd Administration, America's contract with veterans will be honored and renewed. As President, he will ensure that the veterans system addresses the needs of all American veterans. By overhauling and reforming the system, Chris Dodd will:
• Overhaul the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to guarantee the timely delivery of high-quality medical care and disability benefits to every veteran of every war;
• Support our military families through Extended Family and Medical Leave for Military Families; and,
• Pass a New G.I. Bill to ensure veterans get the educational benefits they were promised and to allow them to transfer unused benefits to their spouses and children
"Chris Dodd has offered a comprehensive Veterans' Policy supporting those who have served," said Lt Gen John M. Riggs, U.S. Army, retired.
For more information on Chris Dodd's veterans plan, please visit www.Chrisdodd.com/veterans.

Posted by Michael McCord at 02:33 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

Former candidate Brownback endorses Republican McCain for president

By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer

MANCHESTER (AP) — Sam Brownback, a Kansas conservative and favorite of evangelical Christians, endorsed his former Republican presidential rival John McCain on Wednesday, calling him a friend and a hero.
The nod could provide a much-needed boost, particularly in Iowa, for the Arizona senator and one-time presumed GOP front-runner whose bid faltered and who now is looking for a comeback.
Brownback announced his support for McCain in Dubuque, Iowa, and was traveling with the candidate to campaign in two other cities in the state.
“John McCain is the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition of conservatives, independents and conservative Democrats needed to defeat Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat in the general election next year,” Brownback said in a statement.
He praised McCain for spending a lifetime “standing up for human rights around the world, including a consistent 24-year pro-life record of protecting the rights of the unborn.”
McCain equally lavished praise on Brownback, saying his Senate colleague was “a man of faith and compassion whose integrity and unwavering commitment to protecting the dignity of human life, both born and unborn, has been an inspiration to me.”
It’s uncertain how much weight Brownback’s backing will carry; the Kansas senator dropped out of the race last month with little money and less support. While he is a favorite of religious conservatives, he failed to persuade them to embrace him as the GOP’s consensus conservative candidate. He spent months emphasizing his opposition to abortion, gay marriage and other issues important to the party’s right, but left the race ranked low in polls.
Still, Brownback’s backing could signal to evangelical Christians that they can trust McCain and could help solidify McCain’s credentials on social issues. The endorsement could be especially important in Iowa, where McCain trails in polls.
Despite a solidly conservative Senate voting record on social issues, McCain has a rocky history with cultural and religious conservatives who make up a significant part of the Republican base — and have proven to be influential in Iowa’s GOP caucuses.
He once likened their leaders to “agents of intolerance,” but since has taken steps to heal his relationship with the voting group. Still, some are skeptical that McCain will be a loyal Republican who will champion their issues, in part because while his record is clear, he’s not a high-profile crusader against abortion rights and gay marriage.
Other candidates in the crowded GOP field had lobbied for Brownback’s support over the past few weeks.
Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Southern Baptist minister who has made strides in Iowa in recent weeks, was widely considered the other Republican most likely to get Brownback’s endorsement. It’s unclear whether Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator trying to emerge as the conservatives’ choice, ever got a look from Brownback.
Brownback did talk to Rudy Giuliani, a backer of abortion rights and gay rights, and emerged from the meeting with kind words about the former New York mayor. Yet, days earlier, Brownback told reporters he saw no way in which the GOP would nominate a “pro-choice” Republican. Brownback spent months this summer bitterly criticizing Romney’s shifts on social issues.

Posted by Michael McCord at 11:23 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

Richardson moves staffers from Nevada, NH to Iowa
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson has moved 10 staff members from Nevada to Iowa, shifting resources to the leadoff caucus state where he’s hoping for a strong dark horse finish.
Richardson spokesman Tom Reynolds said Tuesday the New Mexico governor also had sent “some low-level field organizers” from New Hampshire into Iowa. But he said top national staff from the campaign headquarters in Santa Fe, N.M., including the national political director, had been moved to New Hampshire for a net gain in that state.
Democratic rival John Edwards moved some of his staff out of Nevada into other early voting states in August because of limited campaign resources and amid uncertainty about Nevada’s prominence.
At the time, Richardson tried to capitalize on Edwards’ reduction by announcing new staff hires in the state. “Though other campaigns may waver, I remain committed to campaigning in Nevada,” Richardson said in a statement at the time.
Reynolds said Tuesday that Richardson’s Nevada staff members would return to the state eventually, with valuable experience from working in the Iowa caucuses. He said it had not been determined whether they would come back before after Iowa’s vote on Jan. 3.
He would not say how many staff members had been left in Nevada or New Hampshire.
“At the end of the day, New Hampshire is actually seeing a boost with the national staff coming in, and in Nevada it’s going to be to our benefit to have organizers who understand the complicated caucus process,” he said.
Iowa is expected to hold the first contest in the nominating campaign, and there’s a heated race on the Democratic side there between Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and Edwards. Richardson is in fourth place in recent polls of the state.
With the race focused on the top three candidates, expectations for Richardson are low and a surprisingly strong finish in Iowa could be a boost for his campaign. New Hampshire has not set its primary date yet, but it’s expected to come shortly after Iowa.
Nevada’s caucus is scheduled for Jan. 19. Richardson has said he expects to do well in the state since he’s also from the West and is Hispanic like many voters there.
But the impact of Nevada’s caucus remains unclear. It’s unclear how large the turnout will be, and candidates have not been visiting the state nearly as often as Iowa and New Hampshire.

Posted by Michael McCord at 02:22 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

Obama campaign press release

Sixty-Eight New Hampshire Republicans Announce their Support for Obama

Granite State Republicans cite Obama's direct answers, track record of forging bipartisan solutions

MANCHESTER, NH—Sixty-eight New Hampshire Republicans announce today that they have changed party registration to vote for Barack Obama in the primary. Many of these voters have never supported a Democrat before, but they see Obama as the only candidate in either party who has the character to be honest about where he’ll take the country, and the only candidate who has a proven record of bringing people together for real change.

“I’ve been a Republican all my life, but the challenges we face are too great to choose a candidate based on his party—we need to the choose the candidate who can bring fundamental change to Washington and start getting things done again,” said Jerry Spivak, an engineer from Nashua. “Barack Obama is the only candidate who will be able to break the partisan logjam and inspire Americans to come together around real solutions.”

“I’ve always believed that you can only bring about real change when people come together across party lines, and I’ve seen what happens when folks put politics aside and get down to work,” Senator Obama said. “If you can’t bring people together across the old fault lines, you simply aren’t going to be able to make progress on the challenges we face.”

The following New Hampshire Republicans publicly announced that they had switched parties to vote for Obama:

Richard Adams, Portsmouth, NH

Samuel Aldridge, Gilford, NH

Colette Awad, Hudson, NH

Shirley Barrett, Dover, NH

Kurt Bellows, Londonderry, NH

Marge Bonneville, Lochmere, NH

Roger Brickner, Haverhill, NH

Rhona Brown, Seabrook, NH

Nancy Bruce, Exeter, NH

Philip Cassady, Merrimack, NH

Ellen Dunbar, Peterborough, NH

James Elberfeld, Nashua, NH

Shirley Elliot, Antrim, NH

Barbara Fegley, Center Barnstead, NH

Roy Foltan, Bath, NH

Raymond Gagnon, Barrington, NH

Stephen Gambone, Hanover, NH

Gregory Geheb, Nashua, NH

Fred Harwood, Bedford, NH

Brenda Heon, Somersworth, NH

Michael Hill, Pittsfield, NH

John Hutson, Bow, NH

Cecilia Johnson, Wilmot, NH

William Johnson, Weare, NH

Peter Kayros, Bow, NH

Carol Knight, Hillsborough, NH

George Kurzon, Peterborough, NH

Sarah Kurzon, Peterborough, NH

John Laderoute, Pelham, NH

Virginia Lamberton, Loudon, NH

Edward Largy, Bradford, NH

Angela Lawhorn, Nashua, NH

Patrice Lenzi, Barrington, NH

Clement Lyon, Loudon, NH

Ruth Lyon, Loudon, NH

David Maleham, Milton Mills, NH

Gail Malone, Laconia, NH

Christine Manns, Barrington, NH

Frances Marshall, Concord, NH

Mary Mattise, Amherst, NH

Barbara Mendes, Exeter, NH

Robert McNichol, Bow, NH

Linda McVay, Portsmouth, NH

Anne Middleton, Stratham, NH

Betsy Moore, Conway, NH

Nancy Morehardt, Milford, NH

Mary Morin, Raymond, NH

Olympia O’Neill, Derry, NH

Martha Pasquali, Laconia, NH

Trisha Perin, Hampton, NH

David Pinsonneault, Amherst, NH

Rebecca Pirelli, Milford, NH

Robert Pollard, Portsmouth, NH

Thomas Powers, Thornton, NH

Janet Prevatt, Strafford, NH

Robert Richard, Manchester, NH

Caroline Russell, Meredith, NH

Jane Sander, Rye, NH

Lisa Segal-Bator, Bow, NH

Paul Shea, Pelham, NH

Diane Smaracko, Rollinsford, NH

Stephen Smith, Center Barnstead, NH

Jerry Spivak, Nashua, NH

Isabelle Stache, Manchester, NH

Susan Sundell, Salem, NH

Lawrence Varga, Derry, NH

Priscilla Wentworth, Raymond, NH

Janet Wesson, Springfield, NH

Posted by Michael McCord at 02:39 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)

CLINTON CAMPAIGN PRESS RELEASE

Fmr. Vice President Walter F. Mondale Endorses Clinton

The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of former Vice President Walter F. Mondale.

“America is ready for change, and Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver it,” Mondale said. “Hillary is uniquely qualified to rebuild America’s standing in the world and lead this nation from her first day in the White House.”

Mondale served as Vice President from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter, and was the Democratic nominee for President in 1984.

His career in public service began in 1960 when he was appointed Attorney General of Minnesota, later rising to become a two-term U.S. Senator. From 1986 to 1993, Mondale was chairman of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, then served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 1993 to 1996.

Mondale is currently Senior Counsel at the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney in Minneapolis, MN.

“Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Walter has been a champion for working families and equality for all Americans,” Clinton said. “I am deeply honored to have his support and delighted that he’ll join our effort to change America.”

Posted by Michael McCord at 09:06 AM| Permalink | Comments (0)

State Senator Lou D’Allesandro Endorses Hillary for President

D’Allesandro to Serve as National Co-Chair of Italian Americans for Hillary

MANCHESTER – While introducing Senator Hillary Clinton at the Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) Forum in Manchester this morning, State Senator Lou D’Allesandro announced his endorsement of Hillary for president. Sen. D’Allesandro, a founding member of GSIL who is currently serving his fifth term in the New Hampshire legislature, is the eighth Granite State senator to endorse Hillary.

“After the Democratic Presidential Primary Debate this week, my decision to support Senator Clinton became clear,” said D’Allesandro, who will serve as National Co-chair of Italian Americans for Hillary. “At this critical time in our country’s history, we must move beyond negative politics. At the debate, Hillary demonstrated that she is the only candidate with a strong, positive message. I believe she can deliver the real change our country needs.”

Sen. Lou D'Allesandro is the Vice President for Finance in the New Hampshire Senate. He is also chairman of the Finance Committee, vice chairman of the Capital Budget Committee, vice chairman of the Wildlife, Fish and Game Committee, vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the Rules and Enrolled Bills Committee.

D'Allesandro has been a familiar face in New Hampshire government for many years. He served the people of New Hampshire for three terms as an executive councilor and for two terms as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

An active member of the local community, D'Allesandro has served in many civic capacities, including as a volunteer with the National Council on Alcoholism and as a member of the Manchester Board of School Committee. D'Allesandro also served as chairman of the New England Board of Higher Education.

“I am honored to have the support of someone of Sen. D’Allesandro’s stature,” said Senator Clinton. “He will be a strong voice for my campaign in Manchester and across New Hampshire.”

Posted by Michael McCord at 06:34 PM| Permalink | Comments (0)