Despite thinking Democrats are “100% right”

Manchester, NH – 1^st Congressional District Candidates Jeb Bradley and incumbent Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter joined together for the first debate of the 2008 general election today in an event sponsored by AARP. While Jeb Bradley focused on efforts and ideas to reduce taxes, stimulate the economy, improve veteran’s health care, create a comprehensive energy plan and restore public trust in our government, Carol Shea-Porter towed the party line, defending her five week summer vacation, and 100% support for Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and Charlie Rangel.

“Congresswoman Shea-Porter claims she found a mess when she went to Washington and worked to clean it up. So, what has she done? The economy is in shambles, consumer confidence is almost non-existent, the only energy plan she’s voted for is one to drill where there is no oil,” says Bradley spokesman Alicia Preston.

Today Carol Shea-Porter addressed the 12% approval rating in Congress-the lowest in history, by saying that it “doesn’t apply to me.” “ To say the approval rating of Congress somehow doesn’t apply to her with a voting record lock-step with Pelosi 100% of the time is not exactly a profile in courage,” Preston said. “During today’s debate she spent a remarkable time focused on defending herself against the vacation she was the deciding vote for in Congress. It brought to mind that old saying “the lady doth protest too much.”

Carol Shea-Porter, trying to defend her “work ethic” in this Congress, claims she works 7 days a week, and that she had 25 events with middle class citizens during her summer vacation. “First of all, if she’s working seven days, and in session five, I’d like to see her time sheet, because that is simply not true. As for her district events for the middle class citizens: she drops in for five minutes and exits stage left before she can take the questions. It’s like Jay Leno giving the opening monologue and then leaving the show.”

Her other repeated and failed claim during the debate was to tie Jeb Bradley to George W. Bush. What Congresswoman Shea-Porter has failed to realize, is that she’s not running against Bush. “I’m sure Congresswoman Shea-Porter would rather be running against Bush, but she isn’t. Jeb Bradley has a strong record of voting in favor of the people of New Hampshire, not the party in Washington, and Carol can’t say the same thing. When it came to energy, environment, veteran’s healthcare, stem cell research, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, social security privatization or illegal immigration, Jeb broke with the Administration and voted for those he represents,” noted Preston. “He will do the same against McCain or Obama when he feels it appropriate.”

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter admitted to receiving lobbyist money, after running a television ad that claimed otherwise. “She has taken money from lobbyists, millions from big labor and DC special interests. Now that she has been forced to return the lobbyist money, it would be nice to see her do the same with the tainted cash she received from ethically challenged New York Congressman Charlie Rangel,” Preston said.

In contrast to Carol Shea-Porter’s partisan bashing and solution-less discussions of the state of the economy and energy , Jeb Bradley stayed true to himself and his fellow citizens.

"Jeb did a fantastic job. He had a clear understanding not just of the issues, but of how they affect people in New Hampshire. Congresswoman Shea-Porter did a great Nancy Pelosi impression...but, that doesn't help anyone but her Washington colleagues.”

For more information on Jeb Bradley, go to www.jebforcongress.com .

Manchester, New Hampshire –Former Vermont Governor and current Chairman of the Democratic National Committee , Howard Dean , will return to New Hampshire this Monday for a voter registration drive at Keene State College, a community event with students at Dartmouth College and a Democratic Coordinated Campaign phone bank in Concord.

“ Governor Dean will speak to students, faculty, and Keene community members about the importance of registering to vote this election year” said Sandra Abrevaya, New Hampshire Communications Director. “The stakes in this election are too high for young voters to sit this one out. Whether the issue is reviving our faltering economy, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, or making higher education affordable to all, Senator Obama and Senator Biden will deliver the change New Hampshire needs.”

“Governor Dean will lay out the very clear choice that New Hampshire students and families have this November between six more years of the failed economic polices of the Bush-Sununu years, or a new direction with Jeanne Shaheen and Barack Obama,” said Kate Bedingfield, communications director for Jeanne Shaheen for Senate. “In addition to talking with students, he will also visit a Democratic Coordinated Campaign phone bank in Concord to join people who are on the phones with New Hampshire voters spreading the message of change on behalf of Barack Obama, Jeanne Shaheen and Democrats up and down the ticket. On November 4^th, people across New Hampshire will have the opportunity to stand up, make their voices heard and demand real change.”

The New Hampshire Campaign for Change is engaging students and young voters across New Hampshire and will continue to do so in the remaining weeks. Granite Staters interested in doing their part to elect Sen. Obama, Sen. Biden, Jeanne Shaheen and Democrats up and down the ticket can visit http://NH.barackobama.com and www.jeanneshaheen.org to find their local office and get involved.

Monday, October 13

Keene, NH

Keene State College Voter Registration Drive Event with Governor Howard Dean

Keene State College
Young Student Center
Keene, NH

Doors Open 11:30 am

Program Begins 12:00 pm

Hanover, NH

Dartmouth College Community Event with Governor Howard Dean

Dartmouth College

Top of the Hop

Hanover, NH

Doors Open 3:00pm

Program Begins 3:30pm

Concord, NH

Democratic Coordinated Campaign Phone Bank with Governor Howard Dean

NH Democratic Party HQ

2 ½ Beacon St.

Concord, NH

Phone Bank begins 5:30pm

The Week in Rewind:

Palin is coming! Palin is coming!

Michelle was here! Michelle was here!

Nailing jello to a deterioriating financial wall (street)

McCain - Obama Debate, The town meeting from hell

When bad goes to worse...the NH Retirement System

Looking for cash...what's a state to do?

Health Care Reform or Deform?

All this and more, Sunday @ 11a.m. on Political Chowder

Political Chowder with host Arnie Arnesen

Tune in Sunday, October 12 from 11 to Noon EST on MyTV (WZMY-TV – Comcast 18 or Comcast 6 and Dish and DirecTV ). Political Chowder re-airs during the week on 39 public access stations, serving over 89 cities and towns across NH. Check local listings for times and dates.

Part One - Week in Rewind
Former Supreme Court and Congressman Chuck Douglas
NH Senator Jackie Cilley
Pierce Law Professor Marcus Hurn
Part Two - Fixing Health Care - Presidential Style

Jim Demers (Obama Campaign)
Chuck Douglas (McCain Campaign)

go to www.politicalchowder.com for access to a google video of the program
(all shows are archived)

Radio with content, radio with humor, radio with an edge -

Chowder in the Morning with Arnie 1110 AM WCCM 6-9am daily

streaming live on the Internet at www.1110WCCMam.com
Radio regulars include:

Republican Consultant Dave Carney
Nashua Telegraph Business Columnist Tony Paradiso
Iowa State Political Science Professor Steffen Schmidt
Mother Jones Washington Editor David Corn
Democratic Analyst Michael Goldman
Manchester Mayor Guinta and Nashua Mayor Lozeau
Dan Mitchell WKBK Radio Keene
Amy Diaz Hippo Press Movie Reviewer
John Molori, Sports

and

Talk@12 from Iowa Public Radio

MANCHESTER – In a conference call with reporters today, former U.S. Senator Warren Rudman discussed what is at stake for New Hampshire families in the upcoming election, and why John Sununu is the only candidate who can address the biggest economic crisis in a generation and hold the line on spending. Rudman, a well respected bipartisan statesman and co-founder of the Concord Coalition, praised Senator Sununu’s vote for the economic rescue bill and record of accomplishment in the Congress.

“I have followed John Sununu’s career very closely when he was in the House, as well as encouraged him to run for the Senate, and I can only say that he is one who has been willing to be independent, to cast very tough votes and stand up for what’s right for the country and what’s right for the people of New Hampshire,” said Senator Rudman.

In praising John Sununu’s leadership on the economy, Senator Rudman cited his early calls for greater oversight of our financial markets and proposals to reign in mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2003, and again in 2005 and 2007, Senator Sununu introduced legislation to strengthen regulations for Fannie and Freddie, because he understood the threats they posed to the integrity of our financial system. In 2006, he also introduced the National Insurance Act to establish a federal role in the oversight and regulation of insurance markets and firms like AIG. That year, he also supported the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act, which passed the U.S. Senate, to protect investors, taxpayers and the public interest by fostering accountability, transparency, and competition in the credit rating industry.

Senator Rudman also commended Senator Sununu’s decision to vote in favor of the economic recovery legislation, because New Hampshire families would have been devastated by a severe credit crunch if Congress failed to address the turmoil in our financial markets.

“It wasn’t an easy vote but it was the right vote,” said Senator Rudman. “To vote no is to essentially put your head in the sand and say we will let all of these financial institutions fail. There is no question it would have had a ripple effect across the entire economy,” said Senator Rudman. “You couldn’t vote against that bill and look a constituent in the face who can’t get a car loan, has their credit card limits reduced, can’t get a mortgage loan, small companies can’t borrow credit to make payrolls and say it was the right vote. It would have totally been the wrong vote.”

Rudman also criticized Jeanne Shaheen for her failure to solve New Hampshire’s school funding crisis, the biggest issue that came up during her administration, and her support for the bloated $300 billion Farm Bill. Senator Sununu was one of only 15 senators to vote against the legislation because it was loaded with pork barrel spending and unnecessary tax breaks for big agribusiness.

“Anybody from New Hampshire who could vote for that Farm Bill – that’s just an abomination,” said Senator Rudman.

During his first term in the Senate John Sununu has consistently stood up for taxpayers and opposed wasteful government spending. He opposed the 2003 and 2005 energy bills which were loaded with unnecessary tax subsidies to oil companies, and included other reckless spending. He was also one of only 15 senators to stand up and vote against the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere,” and he has called for a one year moratorium of wasteful earmarks that would have prohibited Congress from funding similar pork barrel projects.

CONCORD – New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen released the following statement on tonight’s presidential debate:

“This debate showed America what the people of New Hampshire knew already – that John McCain is at his best in a town hall format when he can directly address the concerns of individual voters. His candid and detailed answers on a whole range of diverse issues clearly showed why he is the best candidate to lead our country forward through this economic crisis and he also demonstrated in practical terms why his healthcare plan is superior to Obama’s flawed plan which will only move us closer to socialized medicine. John McCain won this debate in the same way he won the New Hampshire primary – through a direct and honest discussion with the American people.”