New Hampshire Today, Oct. 24

In New Hampshire today John McCain wraps up a trip to the state with a breakfast gathering in the the Southern tier and there is some interesting items in the news.

While campaigning in the state yesterday McCain joked that he wanted to personally shoot Osama Bin Laden. Later that night in Hampton, McCain was introduced by his longtime friend, former New Hampshire US Senator Warren Rudman to an audience of 275.

In the Union Leader this morning there is a must-read from John DiStaso where he has US Senator Judd Gregg comparing Republican National Committee Chair Mike Duncan to Howard Dean because, like Dean, Duncan is threatening New Hampshire over the primary calendar.

Duncan is supposed to appear at a fund-raiser in Hampton Falls later today for the state Republican Party.

The Hill reports that Fred Thompson (who has only campaigned in the state ONCE since announcing his bid for president) may not show up himself to file papers placing him on the New Hampshire primary ballot. It certainly isn't necessary for a candidate to show up in person, but he would be possibly the only major candidate not to do so this cycle. In 2004, only President Bush sent a surrogate, his sister Doro, to file papers on his behalf. All major Democrats running filed in person.