Manchester politicians deployed to voting locations

MANCHESTER-- As voters enter polling stations across the state today they will be greeted by volunteers holding campaign signs and politicians hoping to convince last-minute voters.

Traveling around Manchester this morning PolitickerNH.com ran into several well-known Manchester politicians

Democratic state Senate candidate Bob Backus was standing outside the Derryfield School with campaign signs, despite not having a primary challenge.

"We're out to show that we have a visible campaign," Backus told PolitickerNH.com. "We want to have our signs out there so people can see them and know we're out there."

Backus also had an unexpected visitor when his opponent, Republican state Sen. Ted Gatsas showed up at the same location to greet voters. As PolitickerNH.com was exiting the school we could see Gatsas and Backus shaking hands.

Also in Ward 1, Douglas Linder, a candidate for state representative, and Blue Hampshire blogger, was holding signs for his candidacy.

"I feel pretty hopefully about my chances," Linder said.

Linder said he has been going to door-to-door, attending various political events and had an ad in this morning's Union Leader all has a way to promote his campaign message.

Across town in Ward 4, former state Sen. Bobby Stephen, a Democrat, was outside the McDonough School campaigning for his son John Stephen, who is running for the 1st Congressional District seat and is facing a crowded GOP field in today's primary.