Five Republican Candidates Vie for Congressional District 2

Voters may have a tough time distinguishing the Republican candidates running for Congressional District two.
Especially if they listen carefully..
325 2:45 Clegg “I’m running the race against Paul Hodes, I want to be the Congressman, I think I can do a better job than Paul Hodes has done.”
221 :51 Bosse “its about giving nh a real choice for a strong conservative small government message, I think that message is superior to what Paul hodes has to offer”
270 :50 Steiner “I can make a difference, and give the voters an opportunity to contrast Jim Steiner, and his background and issues, with Paul Hodes”
223 5:11 “that’s the key to all of this, being able to beat Paul Hodes, Paul Hodes has failed to do his job and needs to be fired”
Okay, so isn’t the Republican primary about beating your Republican opponents – not the Democratic incumbent?
Technically, yes.
But when all the District two candidates have basically the same platform, it’s easier and strategically smarter to criticize the incumbent Democrat.
AS former president Ronald Reagan commanded “thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.”
All of the candidates know gas prices and the economy are key issues to voters.
All of them say they support domestic drilling for oil, alternative energy, ending ethanol subsidies, reforming the tax system and cutting wasteful government spending.
Voters instead may have to differentiate the candidates not on the issues, but on the candidates’ character and charisma.
None of them has statewide name recognition.
But Senator Bob Clegg from Hudson is hoping his years of experience as a legislator will help him win the votes.
228 4:49 I’m quite confident if people start looking at what I’ve done over the last 20 years from both local and state level, I’m the person they want because I’m the person who cares ..I’m the person that’s actually had to work for a living..
He’s garnered endorsements from more than 50 state legislators, New Hampshire’s state troopers and professional fire fighters, former governor Walter Peterson, and most notably former Arkansas Governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.
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Huckabee helped kick off Clegg’s campaign in Nashua with hand-shaking, rock and roll, and media attention – and he was by his side when Clegg filed to run.
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Of course Clegg isn’t relying only on such endorsements – neither are his opponents.
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At a recent candidates’ night in Sunapee, conservative talk radio host Jennifer Horn of Nashua discussed gas prices and heating oil with voters.
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The first time candidate moved to New Hampshire just seven years ago.
But Horn has captured some attention lately with an endorsement from the New Hampshire Union Leader and an article in the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard.
223 1:25 I’m grateful for it, but this race is about people, it’s about the people who are struggling to pay mortgages, people who are struggling to put gas in their car, it’s about people who are worried they’re not going to be able to save to educate their kids, that’s what we’ve tried to focus on.
Horn is the mother of five and the only woman in the race.
The political newbie has already had to fight off criticisms from her opponents – particularly from Grant Bosse of Hillsboro.
Bosse 1a221 4:03Her ten point plan contains zero points of actual public policy, she’s got the right talking points..she hasn’t backed up her talking points with real specifics on how she’d vote.
Thirty-six year old Bosse worked in Washington for Senator John Sununu.
He characterizes himself as the true fiscal conservative in the race.
Bosse1 221 1:58 I am proposing 50 days and 50 ways to cut federal spending. I think if we want taxpayers to believe us again, we have to get serious about where to cut federal spending.
With less money than his opponents, he’s spent most of his time campaigning door to door and town to town – as he did at Bristol’s Old Home Days.
“246 1:50 I’m grant bosse I’m running for Congress ..okay grant, what’s your platform. Smaller government, strong defense, and secure borders…”
Bosse says voters are starting to recognize him.
Another candidate trying to separate himself from the others is Concord Attorney Jim Steiner.
His signs have popped up around Concord and he says he’s campaigned across the district, from Pittsburg to Salem.
Steiner also says he’s looking beyond what he calls “the bread and butter” issues like gas prices, the economy and energy independence.
Steiner says he won’t rest until military medical i-d cards are a part of government policy and New Hampshire veterans aren’t forced to drive to Boston or Vermont to get help.
Steiner 273 1:00 they should be able to go to Concord Hospital put it on the counter and the only response should be, oh, thank you, this is sufficient proof of insurance, you will receive the first quality local medical care, that is not what occurs right now.

The form army green beret is drawing on his military and legal experience to get elected.
Steiner 1 273 :2:04 what do we need to in Congress, we need more veterans, they bring common sense and they bring an understanding of what it really means when we move those blue forces from one place in the world to another place in the world, I’ve done that.
Steiner and the other candidates may have to do something more difficult than moving armed forces.
They’re going to have to convince voters to get to the polls on September 9, in a primary that some observers say will have less than a ten percent turnout.
The republican candidates will get a better chance to separate themselves at an upcoming debate in Manchester.
For NHPR news, I’m Amy Quinton.