NH lawmaker leaves McCain over money

CONCORD, N.H. -- A New Hampshire legislator said Wednesday he is dropping his support John McCain's presidential campaign over his position on immigration, while the campaign says the decision was motivated by money.

D.J. Bettencourt, 23, a Republican from Salem, told the Associated Press that he was indeed considering a job with McCain, but that he does disagree with McCain on immigration. The campaign contends he was upset with the job offer.

Bettencourt has not endorsed anyone else.

His departure came on the same day the campaign announced that fellow state Representative Rip Holden, a Gofftstown Republican, had endorsed McCain.

This morning the campaign announced that Nancy Merrill, one of McCain's biggest supporters in 2000 and currently the state's Republican National Committeewoman, would serve as McCain's campaign co-chair.