House

John Stephen 

MANCHESTER- After a day long bus tour of the Congressional district, Republican John Stephen officially began his campaign at gathering in Manchester.

"It's time for change and it's time for new blood, new leadership and fresh ideas," Stephen told 275 supporters. "That's why, today, I am announcing my candidacy for Congress."

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.

John Stephen in LaconiaSOMERSWORTH -- John Stephen continued his campaign with early afternoon stops in Laconia and Somersworth.

During both stops, Stephen stressed his economic message and restoring trust in Washington.

"We've had Representatives of this Congress, of this district, voting for massive deficit spending, massive deficit spending," Stephen said at Laconia's Soda Shoppe. "Putting my future children's generation at risk, everyone's future generation at risk, your children, your grandchildren. Nobody has the courage to say no."

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.

John Stephen campaigning in ConwayCONWAY- This morning congressional candidate John Stephen officially launched his campaign with stops in Glen and Conway calling for less government spending.

Stephen is traveling the 1st congressional district in a bus joined by Executive Council member Ray Burton, his father Bobby, his brother Chuck and various other campaign staffers and supporters.

"We're going to be talking about optimism, hope and trust," Stephen told the crowd at Glen's Patch's Market.

Tomorrow, Monday, PolitickerNH.com will be covering John Stephen's announcement bus tour.

Check-in for updates throughout the day.

Grover Norquist and John StephenMANCHESTER- Joined by Grover Norquist, former Health and Human Services Secretary John Stephen (R-Manchester) signed the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

"The tax cuts of the past decade are absolutely critical to the long-term success of our economy and our growth. To get rid of them would send a clear message that we're not committed to keeping our economy strong, whether in the short-run or the long-run" Stephen told the crowd assembled at Brady-Sullivan's offices in the Jefferson Mill.

Stephen added that the government does not have a revenue shortage.

"We consistently don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem," he said.

State Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) has announced that he has been endorsed by former governor Walter Peterson, Rockingham County Attorney Jim Reams and Merrimack County Commissioner J.D. Colcord.

"Bob Clegg is the kind of dedicated and diligent public servant who will work effectively in the US Congress," Peterson said in a press release.

Endorsements are usually worth the paper they are printed on.  They don’t typically lead to a lot votes.  At best they lead to activists who will join the campaign and do some ground work because you seem to have the horses needed to win.

If John Stephen had released a list that included former Chuck Morse, Jack Barnes, Chuck Douglas, Dick Flynn, Ruth Griffin, Wayne Semprini, Peter Batula and Carolyn Brown, that would have been impressive.  When you consider Stephen is running against an opponent in Jeb Bradley who served as the districts Congressman just two years ago, it is even more impressive.

John Stephen with Wayne Semprini

Congressional candidate John Stephen (R-Manchester) has announced his campaign chairman and co-chairs.

Former state Sen. Chuck Morse (R-Salem) will serve as Stephen's campaign chairman while former U.S. Rep. Chuck Douglas, state Sen. Jack Barnes (R-Raymond) former Executive Councilor Ruth Griffin, former GOP state Chairman Wayne Semprini, Dick Flynn and state Reps. Peter Batula (R-Merrimack) and Carolyn Brown (R-North Conway) will serve as campaign co-chairs.