NH-1-Clegg to run

[Spaghetti Cat]

From The Crypt's Blog on Politico
N.H. state senator to enter race against Hodes


New Hampshire state Sen. Bob Clegg will be announcing tomorrow that he will be running for Congress, according to a GOP operative, setting up a competitive primary to determine Rep. Paul Hodes’ (D-N.H.) Republican challenger.

The primary could pit New Hampshire moderates against conservatives. Radio talk show host Jennifer Horn entered the race last month, and has been campaigning as a pragmatic centrist. Clegg, by contrast, has a conservative voting record in the state Senate and most recently was helping Mike Huckabee’s presidential efforts in the state.

Republicans outside the district appear to prefer Horn, viewing her as the more electable candidate. But Clegg also had conversations with the National Republican Congressional Committee, and has more political experience and fundraising connections.

Hodes has been fundraising at a decent clip, raising $243,000 in the fourth quarter, and ending the year with $694,000 cash on-hand His western New Hampshire district leans Democratic at the presidential level, giving President Bush only 47 percent of the vote in 2004.

New Hampshire’s primary isn’t until Sept. 9 – if the race turns negative, the late date could hurt the GOP chances of picking up the seat.

[TheresNoMoney]

Clegg has all the appeal of a cancor sore. 

Whoever the candidate, I think Hodes is fairly safe. NH-02 will go Democrat with at least 54% of the vote, maybe higher.

[Brittain33]

But Clegg also had conversations with the National Republican Congressional Committee,

I would love to hear how the two sides would each characterize those conversations.

[Kevinstat]

Paul Hodes represents NH-02.  I believe Jeb Bradley is running for his old seat in NH-01, the more Republican of the two New Hampshire districts.