Burling bucks hometown candidate to endorse Shaheen for US Senate

HANOVER, N.H. -- A growing draft movement to encourage former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen to run in one of the nation's closely watched US Senate race picked up a key endorsement.

State Senator Peter Burling, a Cornish Democrat, is among those who want Shaheen to run, the Globe learned. His endorsement matters because it comes just a day after Jay Buckey, a Burling constituent, announced he was officially in the race.

"I think Jay is a terrific guy, but I made it clear to him that I think Governor Shaheen would be a better candidate," Burling said in an interview.

Burling joins other "Draft Shaheen" supporters like former Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan, State Senator Joe Foster and State Representative Jim Ryan.