CLIFF HURST ANNOUNCES RUN FOR NH GOP VICE CHAIR

Endorsed by Councilor Ray Wieczorek and 2010 Gubernatorial Nominee John Stephen

Manchester, NH -- Today, Cliff Hurst announced his candidacy for Vice Chairman of the New Hampshire State Republican Committee.

“Over the past few weeks, I’ve received encouragement to run from Republicans across the state. I’m pleased to announce that I will be a candidate for Vice Chairman. I will use my experience to grow our party and bring all Republicans together to work and fight for the Republican values we share.”

“I brought effective leadership to the Manchester Republican Committee. Not only did we bring more people into the committee from across the city and across the Republican spectrum, but in 2010 we set fundraising records for the committee – money that helped elect Manchester Republicans that year,” said Hurst.

Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek, a long-time Mayor of Manchester, gave his endorsement. “I remember nominating Cliff for chairman of the Manchester Republican Committee in 2004, and he did an outstanding job for the city. He's the right man, at the right time, for the job of Vice Chair. He has my support.”

Hurst emphasized his record of bringing Republicans together, “I have a demonstrated ability to bring people together, delegate responsibilities, and let people use their individual strengths to accomplish collective success. We achieved so much at the city level because I was able to surround myself with leaders who brought their valuable skill sets to our committee. I believe I can do that at the state level.”

John Stephen, 2010 Republican nominee for Governor, added his support, “Cliff Hurst did a fantastic job as Chairman of the Manchester Republican Committee and I have always been impressed with his passion and commitment to the Party and conservative values. He will make an outstanding Vice Chair of the NHGOP at a time where we must maintain our New Hampshire Advantage and help elect individuals that will fight for principles of economic freedom, limited government and lower taxes. Cliff doesn’t just get this, he lives it. We need someone like Cliff promoting the conservative cause.”

Cliff has had a variety of leadership experiences. He served as an executive at the Palazzi Corporation. He is a founding partner at Hurst and DeGraffenreid Wealth Management. He currently serves as the Vice President of Institutional Development at Liberty Harbor Academy. He served on the board of directors of the Manchester Chapter of the American Red Cross. Cliff has a passion for education, and currently sits on the board of both Mt. St. Mary’s Academy and Liberty Harbor Academy. He lives in Manchester and has two grown sons.

UTAH LIBERTARIAN PARTY ENDORSES GARY JOHNSON

The leadership of the Libertarian Party of Utah is excited to announce our official endorsement of Gary Johnson for the LP presidential candidacy.

We believe that Governor Johnson's experience sets him apart, and that he will
best carry the torch of liberty in the 2012 election.

We wish him much luck at the upcoming convention.

Libertarian Party of Utah
Jake Shannon, Utah LP Chairman
January 31, 2012

Newsmax - Fred Thompson Endorses Newt Gingrich

Breaking News from Newsmax.com

Fmr. U.S. Senator Fred Thompson Endorses Newt Gingrich for President

"He's not afraid, he's tough," Fred Thompson told Sean Hannity Monday night. He said Newt had the policies and experience to tackle the "colossal mess" Washington has created.

Read the Full Story -- Go Here Now

Text of Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks

1/19/12, North Charleston, S.C.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Below is the text of Gov. Perry's speech today.

*NOTE: Gov. Perry sometimes deviates from prepared remarks.

Thank you. As I have stated numerous times on the campaign trail, this campaign has never been about the candidates.

I ran for President because I love America, our people and our freedom.  

But the mission is greater than the man.  

As I have traveled across this great country: from New Hampshire to California, from Iowa to Florida, and to numerous states in between, I have discovered a tremendous purpose and resiliency in our people. 

They have never lost hope despite current circumstances. 

They haven't stopped believing in the promise of America or the American Dream. 

Americans are down, but we can never be counted out. We are too great a people. 

What is broken in America is not our people, but our politics. 

And what we need is a Washington that is humbler, with a federal government that is smaller so our people can live freer.

I entered this campaign offering a unique perspective: a governor who has led a large state leading the nation in job creation, an executive leader who has implemented conservative policies, a son of tenant farmers born with little more than a good name, but who has experienced the great possibilities of freedom. 

But I have never believed that the cause of conservatism is embodied by any one individual.

Our party, and the conservative philosophy, transcends any one individual. 

It is a movement of ideas that are greater than any one of us, and that will live beyond our years.

As a former Air Force pilot, I know we can't lose track of the ultimate objective in carrying out our mission, and that objective is not only to defeat President Obama, but to replace him with a conservative leader who will bring about real change.

Our country is hurting with more than 13 million unemployed, nearly 50 million on food stamps and a debt of more than $15 trillion and growing.

We need bold, conservative leadership that will take on the entrenched interests and give the American People their country back.

I have always believed the mission is greater than the man. 

As I have contemplated the future of this campaign, I have come to the conclusion that there is no viable path to victory for my candidacy in 2012.

Therefore, today I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president.

I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country. 

We have had our differences, which campaigns inevitably bring out. And Newt is not perfect, but who among us is?

The fact is, there is forgiveness for those who seek God and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my own Christian faith. 

And I have no question Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement and the courage to tell the Washington interests to take a hike if it's what is best for the country.

As a Texan, I have never shied away from a good fight, especially when the cause was right. 

But as someone who has always admired a great Texas forefather -- Sam Houston -- I know when it is time for a "strategic retreat."

So I will leave the trail, return home to Texas and wind down my 2012 campaign organization.  And I will do so with pride knowing I gave myself fully to a cause worthy of our country. 

And as I head home, I do so with the love of my life by my side, a woman who makes every day a good one when she is by my side, my wife Anita. 

Thank you Anita for all you have done.

I also want to thank my son Griffin, my daughter Sydney, and my daughter-in-law Meredith for standing with us in this great effort.

With a good wife, three wonderful children, and a loving God in my life, things will be good no matter what the future holds.

I'm proud of the policies we put forward to the American people and believe they provide the right path forward for our party and our nation: overhauling Washington and returning power to state and local governments and to the people, creating energy jobs and energy security, cutting spending and eliminating unnecessary federal agencies and cutting taxes to a flat, fair 20 percent.   

And I will continue to fight for these conservative reforms because the future of our country is at stake and the road we are traveling today - President Obama's road - endangers our future.

I want to thank some wonderful individuals who have stood by my side in this state: Katon Dawson, Ambassador Wilkins, and a strong and good man serving you in Congress, Mick Mulvaney.

I want to thank all my supporters from across the country, in particular Governor Bobby Jindal, Steve Forbes and Governor Sam Brownback, as well as Senator Jim Inhofe, Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Sam Graves.

And I want to say a special thanks to three distinguished veterans who have joined me on the campaign trail: Medal of Honor awardee and Navy SEAL Mike Thornton, Navy Cross recipient Marcus Luttrell and Purple Heart recipient, Marine Captain Dan Moran.

I began this race with a sense of calling. 

I felt led into this arena to fight for the future of this country. 

I feel no different today than I did then, knowing a calling never guarantees a particular destination, but a journey that tests one's faith and character.

So now the journey leads us back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded for the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of a great nation. 

Our country needs bold leadership and a real transformation. 

We must rise to the occasion and elect a conservative champion to put our nation back on the right track.  

And this I know, I am not done fighting for the cause of conservatism. In fact I have only begun to fight. 

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

South Carolina Libertarian Executive Committee Endorses Gov Gary Johnson

January 7, 2012 COLUMBIA, SC – In the style of the Continental Congress, Members of the South Carolina Libertarian Executive Committee endorse Gary Johnson. A Resolution was penned as follows:

" Whereas, the South Carolina Libertarian Party supports the libertarian principles demonstrated by Gary Johnson and appreciates the efforts the candidate has been making to bring the message of libertarian ideas of personal and financial freedom to the voting public.

Resolved, that the following South Carolina Libertarian Party Executive Committee members endorse Gary Johnson for his bid for the Libertarian Party’s nomination for the Office of President of the United States at the upcoming national convention in May of 2012 and we encourage our delegation to support him.

“The fact that Governor Johnson brings to the table his executive-level experience and a proven record of fiscal responsibility and that he left his term-limited post in New Mexico with a balanced budget and a $1 billion budget surplus, I believe that he would be the far best candidate to represent the Libertarian Party on a national level”, said State Chairman, Victor Kocher.