Naile:  CNHT picnic a "family reunion" for the "center right"

Naile: CNHT picnic a “family reunion” for the “center right”

The Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers held it’s annual picnic yesterday in Hillsborough at the American Legion Post #59.  In an interview with Girard at Large on Wednesday, CNHT Chairman Ed Naile explained that the picnic was a family reunion of sorts for the state’s political “center-right.”

Brown:  AWOL at major grassroots event for conservatives

Brown: AWOL at major grassroots event for conservatives

In addition to Second Amendment, Life, Education, Constitutional and limited government advocates present, all the major GOP candidates running for federal office arrived in person, except for former Bay State Senator Scott Brown, whose campaign had no presence at the event.  At least a dozen candidates for state senate attended as did several candidates for state representative.  The two GOP candidates for Executive Council in District 5, former Councilor David Wheeler and Steve Hattamer, were present as was Dennis Hogan, the former Hillsborough County Attorney who is again seeking election election.

Hemingway:  Hammers Havenstein over "tea bagger" comment

Hemingway: Hammers Havenstein over “tea bagger” comment

The stump speeches were fiery at times as candidates sought to establish their bonafides on conservative hot button issues, particularly those regarding spending and taxes.  GOP gubernatorial candidate Andrew Hemingway brought the house down when demanded that rival Walt Havenstein apologize for referring to the Tea Party as “tea baggers” in a video that recently surfaced of a speech Havenstein gave in Maryland four years ago.

Emcee Rich Girard of the Girard at Large Radio Show on 90.7 FM WLMW in Manchester, privately offered Havenstein the opportunity to return to the podium to address his controversial comments, but Havenstein’s media spokesman declined the invitation.

Betsy McCaugheyKeynote Speaker  Dr. Betsy McCaughey, New York State’s former lieutenant governor, shocked shocked the crowd with details of her investigation into Obamacare.  From how care for our elderly will be reduced to what we’ll see when we file this year’s taxes, Mccaughey’s presentation stunned an already opposed crowd with samples of the information she included in her new book Beating Obamacare 2014.

Cormier: Gets Granite Grok endorsement at event.

Cormier: Gets Granite Grok endorsement.

The event was carried live by on an Internet stream by the conservative blog Granite Grok which also too video of the event and will publish the recordings within then next 48 hours.  Grok leader Skip Murphy seized the mic on two occasions to announce their endorsement of Jane Cormier in the primary against District 16 State Senator David Boutin and Hemingway.

The picnic also included a straw poll in the races for governor, US Senate, and congress.  The results are below.

GOVERNOR

Hemingway:  Hammers Havenstein over "tea bagger" comment

Hemingway: Big win

Andrew Hemingway – 111
Walt Havenstein – 43
Jonathan Smith – 1
Daniel Greene – 0

 

 

 

US SENATE

Smith:  Standing taller after after straw poll vote

Smith:  Big margin

Bob Smith – 76
Jim Rubens – 44
Scott Brown – 34
Miro Dziedzic – 2
Gerard Beloin – 1
Robert D’Arcy – 0
Mark Farnham – 0
Bob Heghman – 0
Walter Kelly – 0
Andy Martin – 0

CD – 1

Guinta

Guinta:  Doubles up

Frank Guinta – 74
Dan Innis – 36
Brendan Kelly – 35
Everett Jabour – 0

 

 

 

CD-2

Garcia:  Solid choice in straw poll

Garcia: Solid choice in straw poll

Marilinda Garcia – 81

Gary Lambert – 59

Jim Lawrence – 8

Mike Little – 1