James W. Pindell's blog

CONCORD -- The newest version of an education funding constitutional amendment did not receive enough votes to go on the senate this afternoon.

The compromise amendment, backed by the House Democratic leadership, failed to get the 60 percent needed to amend the state constitution.

The amendment was defeated 140 to 222.

Getting an amendment has been Gov. John Lynch's biggest priority this legislative session.

Congressional candidate Jeb BradleyIt might be no surprise that a rival campaign and a rival party chair were less than impressed with Jeb Bradley's first television ad this cycle.

In the ad Bradley went to after Democratic U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and not his opponent in the Republican primary John Stephen.

Stephen campaign spokesman Greg Moore noted how early the ad was going up.

Republican Congressional candidate Jeb Bradley released the first television and radio ads of his campaign and the first non-presidential related ads in New Hampshire this cycle.

The ads, titled "The Right Kind of Change," began airing on WMUR this morning. Intead of focusing on his primary against John Stephen the ads goes entirely after Democratic U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.

Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen continues to lead U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu in their race for the Senate this year, a new poll out today suggests.

The Ramussen Poll gave Shaheen a 51 percent to 43 percent lead. The poll was taken Wednesday of 500 likely voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percent.

Today House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth), hoping to find the middle ground, announced she endorses the concept of a constitutional amendment, just not the same one Lynch wants.

Former New Jersey Sen. Bill BradleyMANCHESTER -- Two presidential candidates, a national political reporter, and a former governor were all honored for their participation in the New Hampshire Primary in what has become the state's premier political party of the year.

The New Hampshire Political Library's annual fund-raiser at the Center of New Hampshire brought together the state's political elite from both parties to hear campaign war stories and celebrate the state's first-in-the-nation tradition.

A locally reported Concord blog picks up on rumors that longtime state Rep. Liz Hager (R-Concord) may not run for re-election this year.

Reporter Tony Schinella's OurConcord blog says Hager responded in an email saying, "Don't you think 26 years is enough?"

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- At a Harvard symposium today New Hampshire's two political party leaders disagreed over the question whether the past New Hampshire Primary "worked".

A national pro-gay rights group announced today they'll make the New Hampshire U.S. Senate race one of 14 races they will target this year with money and staff.

The Human Rights Campaign has endorsed former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's attempt to beat incumbent Republican John E. Sununu.

In 2006, the group gave a significant amount of resources to New Hampshire.  

Six of the 13 Rochester City Council members have names that begin with the letters "La", a sign of the city's French Canadian roots. Two have names that begin with the letter "H".