Union Leader

State Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) says New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen knew he (Clegg) was planning to for Congress, The Union Leader is reporting running.

"Fergus knew I was going to run. Everybody knew I was going run," Clegg said.

Responding to a Union Leader article that said Congressman Paul Hodes (D-Concord) helped create a Congressional ethics panel, New Hampshire Republican Chairman Fergus Cullen issued a press release titled, "Hodes Ethics Hypocrisy Watch."

Cullen said that Hodes and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester) helped protect Congressman Jack Murtha (D-Penn.). In 2007 Murtha was accused of breaking House ethics rules after he threatened to refuse funding for projects supported by Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.). Rogers challenged an earmark that Murtha inserted into an intelligence bill.

Hodes and Shea-Porter voted to table a resolution that would have reprimanded Murtha.

An hour before The Union Leader reported that Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta is not running for governor, the Manchester Democratic Party released a statement titled, "Does Mayor Guinta Have Time to Notice Degrading Streets?

"Our Absentee Mayor should get back to the city and start serving the people who elected him rather than trying to chase down his political pipedreams," said Chris Pappas, Chair of the Manchester Democratic Party.

Citing personal reasons, Democratic Manchester State Representative Michael DesRoches has resigned.

Since January 2007, DesRoches has not cast a single vote.

DesRoches told The Union Leader that he has been dealing with personal and financial problems.

The Union Leader is reporting that former Salem State Senator Chuck Morse has decided not to run for governor. 

"The reality of the whole situation is catching up with me. I'm finding it difficult to get away from my business. It's not working. I don't' believe I can run and pay enough attention to my business," Morse said. 

The First Congressional District Republican primary between John Stephen and Jeb Bradley has shifted towards a debate over a Congressional earmark.

Last night, Bradley told the Goffstown/Weare Republican Committee that Stephen sought an earmark for a project when Stephen was Secretary of Health and Human Services