NH's Jeanne Shaheen addresses Dem convention

DENVER—Former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen stood at the Democratic National Convention podium Wednesday with fellow U.S. Senate candidates nationwide to praise Barack Obama and pledge to take the country in a new direction.

"All of us have been inspired by Senator Obama's candidacy," Shaheen said in prepared remarks. "I stand here so proud of our party, so proud of our country, so awed by the journey our nation has taken to arrive at this moment.

"But our historic journey will not be over until we elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States!" she said.

Shaheen added that she knows something about historic journeys, as the first woman elected governor of New Hampshire, in 1996.

"With your help I intend to become the first woman senator from New Hampshire!" she said.

Shaheen lost the 2002 Senate race to Republican John Sununu. The two are facing a rematch in November.

Shaheen said the country needs a new economic, energy and national security direction.

"No more tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead, we'll cut taxes for middle class families and small businesses and get our economy moving," she said.

Fergus Cullen, chairman of New Hampshire's Republican Party, said Shaheen "failed to offer any specific ideas on how strengthen our economy and once again refused to support any efforts to expand domestic drilling and energy exploration."