Sununu: Leading the pack
The G O P race for governor seems to be boiling down to a two man one. A poll recently released by InsideSources and the N H Journal showed twenty seven percent of Republicans plan to vote for District Three Executive Councilor Chris Sununu and twenty point seven percent said they were voting for Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas. Meredith Senator Jeanie Forrester was a distant third at five point four percent and Wilton State Rep. Frank Edelblut came in a point behind at four point four percent. More than forty one percent were undecided.
Van Ostern: Out in front
On the Democratic side, District Two Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern led the pack with thirteen point four percent, former Director of the state’s Bureau of Securities Regulation Mark Connolly was second with six point eight percent. Former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand was a point behind at five point eight percent and Ian Freeman, a radio talk show host and Free State activist in Keene was fourth with two point six percent. A whopping seventy one percent were unsure.
Ayotte: Grabs the lead
The poll contained good news for embattled Senator Kelly Ayotte, who faces a primary from Jim Rubens, a former state senator who ran for the office two years ago. While the poll did not ask about the primary between the two, it gave Ayotte a forty nine to forty one point three percent lead over Governor Margaret Wood Hassan with just under ten percent undecided. Interestingly, the poll showed Ayotte leading with women voters.
The poll also showed Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump well ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with a tally of forty seven point nine percent to thirty eight point five with thirteen and a half percent undecided.
We’ve linked to the poll with all the details for the curious among you.
Auburn: Public hearings announced
The Auburn Board of Selectmen will hold a public hearing on Monday, August eighth at 7:00 P.M. at in Town Hall for the purpose of receiving public comment concerning the acceptance nearly fifty thousand dollars in unanticipated revenues from the sale of three properties taken by Tax Collector Deeds last year, and to authorize the expenditure of twenty three thousand five hundred dollars from those funds to expand the parking lot and for the design and permitting of a connecting walkway at Eddows Recreational Fields. Immediately afterward, the selectmen will hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving comment on the withdrawal and expenditure of twelve thousand nine hundred dollars from the Accrued Benefits Expendable Trust for the total cost of accrued benefits paid out to two town employees who retired in two thousand sixteen.
News from our own backyard continues after this.
Seeking nominations
The Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications seeks to honor New Hampshire residents or organizations who have worked to protect free speech and free press. Nominations are open for the school’s 14th annual First Amendment Award, honoring diligence in protecting free press and free speech liberties. The recipient will be recognized Nov. seventeenth at an evening gala at the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
A committee of judges chooses the recipient from public nominations. First Amendment recipients receive a bronze eagle sculpture created by Mrs. Loeb and a fifteen hundred dollar award. Nominations forms are available at loeb school dot org. The deadline for nominations is Sept twelfth.
The award and the school are legacies of the late Nackey S. Loeb, president and publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader and Sunday News.
Obama and Clinton: After his convention speech
Well, yesterday was blame the guns day at the Democratic National Committee’s convention in Philadelphia as the party that has criticized Donald Trump and the Republicans for playing to people’s fears on issues like immigration and Islamic terror showcased shooting victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT and the Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, S C to gin up sympathy and fear over guns. The not so subtle message was that unless the country does what the Democrats want on guns, more people will needlessly die. Only Hillary, of course, has what it takes to break the vicious death grip the N R A has on the country and make us all safe and secure.
The marquee speakers were vice presidential nominee Senator Tim Kaine, Vice President Joe Biden and the current occupant of the White House, who gave a rousing address that had me wondering when the country became the Land of Oz.
Trump: Asked about Russians
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Donald Trump held a news conference and did several high profile campaign stops, including an overflowing and enthusiastic one in Biden’s native home town of Scranton, PA. Trump made headlines over the hack of the Democratic National Committee’s email servers. He chided the Democrats and the media over Russia’s alleged involvement in the hack saying quote:
If they hacked, they probably have her thirty three thousand emails. I hope they do. They probably have her thirty three thousand emails that she lost and deleted because you’d see some beauties there, so let’s see.
He also said he hoped the Russians released Clinton’s emails if they had them, opining they’d get a great reception by the press.
The recurring theme put forward the Democrats and the media that Trump wanted Russia to hack Clinton’s server to obtain Top Secret information, just didn’t happen. We’ve linked to the press conference so you can see for yourself.
That’s news from our own backyard! Girard at Large hour ___ is next.
