PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- John McCain announced a number of new local endorsements today as his campaign appears to have a lot of momentum.

Among the new endorsements include:

State Senator Sheila Roberge of Bedford
Peter Batula, Merrimack State Representative
Liz Chamberlain, Press Secretary to United States Senator John Sununu
Dick Green, Former Senator from Rochester
Saggy Tahir, State Representative, Manchester

Former six-term New Hampshire Congressman Charlie Bass endorsed John McCain today just as he had during McCain's race for president in 2000.

Bass is a Peterborough Republican and the son of a former governor. He is not beloved by the Republican base, but his moderate politics allowed his to survive re-election in his Democratic-leaning district.

He was defeated in 2006 by Democrat Paul Hodes in the Democratic wave that year.

"Our nation needs a leader with the strength, experience, and character to lead as commander in chief from day one and John McCain is that leader," said Bass in a statement. "John McCain is the only candidate with the proven national security experience vital to confronting the challenges facing our nation, and that's why I am proud to support him for president."

Yesterday McCain picked up the endorsement of New Hampshire Senate Republican Leader Ted Gatsas.

DERRY, N.H. -- The Senate Republican leader endorsed John McCain today at a rally in Derry minutes ago.

Senator Ted Gatsas, a Manchester Republican, served as Senate President for a year in 2005-2006.

Gatsas had been close to former New York Governor George Pataki when he was a considering a run for president. He also was responsible for bringing Fred Thompson to the state for his first trip last summer.

- Globe reporter Bryan Bender contributed to this report from Derry.

Watch McCain here

And Romney here

John McCain's presidential campaign is accusing Mike Huckabee's campaign of using push polling against him.

The McCain campaign told their supporters to write down any information on these calls. Here is the statement McCain issued:

"Last night, the McCain campaign received disturbing reports of new push-polling calls in New Hampshire paid for by a group supporting Governor Mike Huckabee for president. Similar to previously reported calls in Iowa, the calls were to designed to disparage John McCain in an effort to advance Governor Huckabee's campaign. Governor Huckabee should immediately condemn these tactics and urge his supporters to stop this activity attempting to smear John McCain or any other candidate, and allow this campaign to be waged on the issues and each candidate's merits.

"The New Hampshire Attorney General's office is currently conducting a full investigation to determine who was behind push-polling activities last month. The McCain campaign initiated the investigation and called on all Republican campaigns to join us as parties to the complaint, and we look forward to the results of the Attorney General's investigation.

"Granite State voters are rightly proud of our state's first-in-the-nation primary and see no place for negative attacks in New Hampshire politics. John McCain is running a positive campaign based on his experience, judgment and positive vision for America's future. All Republican campaigns should join with him and pledge to the voters of New Hampshire that they will conduct their campaigns with the dignity voters deserve."

NASHUA, N.H. -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain said he disagrees with President Bush's use of so-called "signing statements" when signing legislation into law.

Bush used signing statements throughout his presidency to amend or in some cases negate the legislation he was signing into law.

At a Rotary Club meeting in Nashua, McCain said Bush's use of signing statements were "wrong and it should not be done."

He then when on to pledge to the audience that he would not continue the practice if elected president.

"I would never issue a signing statement. I would only sign it or veto," McCain said about legislation that would reach his desk.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Ahead of his four-day campaign swing through the state, John McCain's presidential campaign released a list of 342 city and town chairs for his campaign in the state.

Most names on the list have been either supporters since 2000 or have been announced before.

That said, it is reminder that he belongs in the top-tier of candidates in this state. Rudy Giuliani and certainly Mitt Romney could offer similar large supporter lists, but Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, and Fred Thompson probably could not.

I'll admit it's not desirable to be scooped on my political beat by the sports section, but the Globe's "Extra Bases" blog transcribes Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling's appearance on WEEI this morning:

"I gotta go with McCain," said Schilling. "As we get through this, and we start to hear things, I'm not voting party line anymore. I'm voting for the guy that I know is going to be the same person four years from now that he was when [he was] elected. I need to trust somebody because I don't agree with anybody's platform front to back. I just need to know that the person that I'm putting in the office is not going to... people don't want to hear this but President Bush has stayed very true to what he's wanted, and what he's done, and I just think the office is bigger than any one person. I need somebody that I can trust to do right by the country and stick to their guns."

John McCain's new ad, which airs on New Hampshire and Boston television stations, talks about cutting federal spending.

Watch it here:

Primary Source assistant Brian Lawson captures the following from a press gaggle John McCain held on his campaign bus in New Hampshire this morning.

ABOARD THE STRAIGHT TALK EXPRESS, N.H. --

McCain on Rudy Giuliani's former police commissioner Bernie Kerik, who was indicted this week:

"He was supposed to be there to train the police force. He stayed two months and left. That's why I would never have supported him to be Secretary of Homeland Security because of his irresponsible act in Baghdad when he was suppose to be training the police."

"It shows that the [President Bush] didn't know or didn't care," about Kerik's potential problems when Bush nominated him to be the first Secretary of Homeland Security.

McCain on Giuliani's experience:

"It's a fundamental lack of experience," McCain said. "It's great to have lead a major city. I mean his post-crisis handling was fine. But that certainly doesn't mean you're qualified to lead."

GOFFSTOWN, N.H. -- Tom Ridge, the former Pennsylvania governor and former US Secretary of Homeland Security, began a two-day campaign swing in New Hampshire on behalf John McCain today.

Ridge, in an interview, said the believed that McCain was far more qualified than his rivals for the position. Asked what he thought of the homeland security credentials skills of Rudy Giuliani, Ridge said that "you'd have to ask New Yorkers about that".

He was in Goffstown speaking to a handful of first responders at the Hillsborough County Courthouse Complex.

ROCHESTER, N.H. -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain told workers of small weapons factory that he not only wants to catch Osama Bin Laden if elected, but said he "will shoot him with your products".

"I will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will shoot him with your products," McCain said.

McCain told reporters afterward he was joking when he made the comment at Thompson Center Arms in Rochester.

"I certainly didn't mean I would actually shoot him. I am certainly angry at him, but I was only speaking in a way that was trying to emphasize my point," McCain said. "I would not shoot him myself."

Mitt Romney's campaign is criticizing John McCain for his positive comments about New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, a Democrat, while he was campaigning in Lynch's hometown.

"Only John McCain would criticize a fellow Republican one day and then campaign with a Democrat the next," said Romney's New Hampshire Director Jim Merrill.

On Saturday McCain addressed the New Hampshire Republican Party's central committee in Manchester where he called into question Romney's assertion that he comes from the "Republican wing of the Republican Party."

“When he ran against Ted Kennedy, he said he didn’t want to return to the days of Reagan-Bush. I always thought Ronald Reagan was a real Republican," McCain told the group, which included Romney supporters.

On Sunday. McCain held a town hall meeting in Hopkinton, Lynch's hometown. The event was broadcast live on CSPAN. At the beginning of his remarks McCain said he was a "great admirer" of Lynch. (Lynch has a reputation for being bi-partisan and has enjoyed an approval rating of over 70 percent for about two years.)

Lynch later showed up to the town hall simply to welcome him to town and to say he has "enormous respect and admiration" for McCain.

Merrill said that New Hampshire Republicans may not share McCain's view though a poll last week showed that over 60 percent of Republicans did have a positive view of Lynch.

"New Hampshire Republicans know all too well what Governor Lynch's vision for change has meant for New Hampshire. We need the conservative change in Washington that can only come from Governor Romney," Merrill said.

You can watch it on YouTube below.

Update: McCain's New Hampshire co-chair Peter Spaulding responds

"John McCain learned from his political hero Ronald Reagan to extend his hand in friendship to members of the other political party. Obviously Mitt Romney never learned that lesson because he admitted he was never part of the Reagan Revolution," Spaulding said.

Another tale from the trail from Primary Source assistant Brian Lawson. You can read his own blog here.

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, John McCain appeared at a Derry town hall forum. The forum was part of a two-day swing through New Hampshire and was his first public appearance on Sunday. As supporters were watching video about McCain, McCain casually walked through the backdoor and waited among the audience. During his opening statement, the Arizona Senator discussed the situation in Myanmar and energy independence from Iran, Venezuela and Russia. When discussing energy independence, McCain used two ads has a prop. One showed Hugo Chavez and Ahmadinejad hugging each other and the other was a picture of Vladimir Putin who McCain labeled as the "dictator of Russia."

What: John McCain holds a town hall forum
Where: Derry's Pinkerton Academy
How many people: 250 people
How many interest groups attended: One, Students for Social Security, Granite Staters for Medical Marijuana, Healthcare Voters
Best McCain Joke: "It's just the O'Reilly twins getting drunk again"
Best quote of the event: "France now has a pro-American President, which shows you that if you live long enough you can see anything."

Of all the people at the several campaign rallies and town hall meetings John McCain has attended in New Hampshire this year, it may seem a little odd that the one person the campaign selects for their commercial holding a "New Hampshire for McCain" sign was an out-of-state former paid McCain staffer.

The 30-second spot below shows introduces McCain as a leader and as a person with a long history in the Granite State. Just before he says the words "Live Free or Die" the commercial cuts to a shot of Dwayne Carson, a Washington resident who was laid off with several other New Hampshire staffers when McCain had money troubles.

A McCain spokeswoman did not return a phone call for comment.

Watch the ad:

John McCain, whose campaign appears to be resurging, announced this morning
that he will put up three new ads in New Hampshire starting this weekend.

A 30-second TV spot, titled "Live Free," praises McCain's judgment and
trust and promises that he will restore trust in the federal government.
"New Hampshire, you know who he is," the narrator says, reminding viewers
that McCain won the first-in-the-nation primary in 2000.

A 60-second TV ad, titled "One Man," shows an extended clip of McCain being
interviewed in a hospital bed as a prisoner-of-war after his Navy plane was
shot down over North Vietnam. The narrator says "one man" sacrificed for
his nation, a not-so-veiled reference to the fact that none of his main
rivals served in the military.

And in a 60-second radio spot, titled "Courage," also includes the POW
interview and says McCain will be a leader, not a follower.

The ads follow up on a speech this morning to the conservative Hudson
Institute in New York, where he suggested that rivals Rudy Giuliani, the
former New York mayor, and Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor,
lack the foreign policy experience to be commander-in-chief.

The Arizona senator argued that the next president needs "tested
experience, political courage and strategic clarity to make sound and
difficult decisions," according to the Associated Press. "Tough talk or
managerial successes in the private sector aren't adequate assurance that
their authors have the experience or qualities necessary for such a
singular responsibility," he said.

In a conference call with reporters, campaign manager Rick Davis said while
McCain does not try to elevate military service over other ways to serve
the country, McCain's military service is "an obvious contrast" and the
knowledge and experience he gained would be invaluable to a president in
"the time of crisis and time of war we exist in now."

"I do think people's credentials are going to be debated in this election,
and this is a very important one in this time of war," Davis said.

McCain, whose campaign went through staff and financial wobbles earlier
this year, is trying to capitalize on a burst of momentum, tied in large
measure to his support for the so-called surge of US troops in Iraq. This
month, he took his "No Surrender" bus tour to Iowa and New Hampshire.

In the latest New Hampshire poll, McCain rose to 17 percent support among
likely GOP primary voters, up from 12 percent in July. That puts him within
striking distance of the leaders, Romney with 23 percent and Giuliani with
22 percent, according to the CNN/WMUR survey released Wednesday.

"We think this is significant because of the campaign John McCain has waged
there recently," Davis said of the poll.

Campaign officials said that the ads will air statewide for at least the
next two weeks and are designed to remind voters of heroic McCain's life
story and to lock in the progress McCain seems to be making.

McCain also plans to be in New Hampshire this weekend for several events.

-- Written by Foon Rhee

Another tail from the trail from Primary Source assistant Brian Lawson. You can read his blog here.

John McCain's "No Surrender" tour rolled into Londonderry's American Legion Post 27, on Friday. The event was the last of a two day trip in which the Arizona Senator sought to drum-up support for the Iraq surge. McCain was joined by his wife Cindy, who spent the trip on crutches. Cindy McCain introduced her husband saying, "He's the only one who truly understands what it means to send young men and women into combat."

What: Senator John McCain's final "No Surrender" tour event

Where: American Legion Post 27, Londonderry, New Hampshire

How many people: 65 supporters, veterans and current servicemen

Media Count: ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Time's Ana Marie Cox, C-SPAN, three photographers

What food was served: Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and soda

Third Party Groups: Brave Quilt Project. The group had a table in which they were going to present quilts to two families who lost loved ones in Iraq.

McCain's on MoveOn.org's Petraeus ad: "I have mixed emotions about this New York Times piece. (Held up a copy of the MoveOn.org ad.) It's remarkable, it's remarkable. General Petraeus or General Betray Us. Well, My understanding of the word betray is traitor. How something like that, betrayal, could be said about a man who has served this country for 35 years with honor and distinction is beyond me. It's disgraceful and done by MoveOn.org. Anyone who pretends to be President of the United States should repudiate such an attack on the honor and integrity not only of General Petraeus but also the officer corps of the United States military. It's outrageous, please express your outrage."

Best quote of the event: "I hope you support the troops, not only the troops, but also the mission. It's wonderful to say 'I support the troops.' It's really not so wonderful if they're going to be defeated."

DURHAM, N.H. -- John McCain told a small gathering of supporters that he feels comfortable in New Hampshire, that it is his "home", and that he will win the New Hampshire Primary "just like we did four years ago".

McCain was introduced by Connecticut Congressman Chris Shays, the only Republican Congressman in all of New England.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham also spoke about his recent trip to Iraq. He said were signs of progress.

"Morale is really high there now," Graham told the crowd of 60 attending a pre-debate rally at a bar near the debate site.

McCain also introduced Jamie Steinbach, an 11-year-old girl from Milton. She recently gave her allowance to McCain's campaign.

"You are not a little jerk," McCain said referring to how he characterized a Concord High School student who asked him yesterday if he was too old to be president.

The Primary Source is lucky to have three talented college students helping out with the blog through the New Hampshire Primary...whenever that happens.

New England College senior Danny Reiter, St. Anselm College senior Brian Lawson, and University of New Hampshire sophomore Keeley Smith will aid in reporting and logistics for what could be among the most competitive and complicated New Hampshire primary ever.

They will also be submitting what we'll call "Tales from the Trail", a collection of short snapshots of primary events.

The first Tale from the Trail is from Brian Lawson. Some readers of this blog may have also visited his must-read reported blog called New Hampshire Presidential Watch.

What: John McCain supporters gathered to watch a new campaign video called "Courageous Service" that highlights Senator McCain's courage, faith and leadership.

Where: John McCain's New Hampshire Headquarters at Manchester's Waumbec Mill.

How many people: 35 supporters and staff members.

How many bags of popcorn: No popcorn, but lots of soda and Chips Ahoy!

Why would anyone on Thursday night watch a McCain movie (one they could get a copy of) over the Red Sox/Yankees game: "I'm a staunch backer and believer in McCain and any active support and presence that, as a Veteran, I can show that I am standing firmly behind him," said Jeff Gaudet from Alexandria, N.H.

Best quote of the event: The crowd laughed the loudest when Senator McCain's mother said, in relation to her hearing that her son was a POW: "Can you belief that's the best news of my life."

NASHUA, N.H. -- Senator John McCain stood with his troops at a restaurant here convincing them that his campaign was far from over, and it was a message his most ardent supporters wanted to hear.

"I would like to just say that we're fine, we're fine," McCain said to about 30 members of his campaign's Nashua steering committee. "The fact is that we had to make some adjustments and now we are out doing the town hall meetings.

"We are going to continue what we did in 2000 and we are going to be fine," McCain said.

The brief stop at a downtown restaurant and the Main Street walk that followed were part of a day of campaigning in New Hampshire as he tries to re-start his campaign after a news broke that his campaign was almost out of money and a number of campaign staff had quit. Not helping matters was a poll out last week from the University of New Hampshire showing the one-time front-runner now in fourth place behind Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson for the Republican nomination in the Granite State.

Among those in the audience who believed the message was former State Representative Paul LaFlamme, of Nashua.

"The fact is that only about 1 in 100 people are actually paying attention and when everyone else pays attention in the fall they are going to see McCain as their candidate," LaFlamme said.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Three more high-profile staffers left presidential candidate John McCain's national communications staff over the weekend due to the lack of campaign money. Meanwhile, McCain's New Hampshire press contact is being groomed to replace them, according to the Associated Press.

Reached this morning, Jill Hazelbaker, McCain's New Hampshire press secretary, wouldn't comment on whether or not she will take on more responsibilities. But amid speculation that she also would be quitting the campaign, she said she is committed to working for McCain.

"I believe he is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate," Hazelbaker said.

A decision is expected this week.

CLAREMONT, N.H. -- With an "Independents Vote McCain" sign plastered on the wall, Senator John McCain stood in the middle of a small American Legion Post here and the first issue he talked about was climate change, later declaring that health care was the country biggest domestic issue.

Both issues are among those that nearly always come up at events with Democratic presidential candidates, but rarely with Republicans.

As McCain struggles with what he said Saturday were "post-mortum" stories about his campaign due to staff shake-ups and a small bank account, he rounded out a trip to New Hampshire, trying to find some of the same magic he had when he won the state's presidential primary in 2000.

After discussing climate change, the federal budget, adult education to help ease the pains of manufacturing job losses, and the Iraq war, he took an unusually high 19 questions from the audience of about 100. At most events candidates generally answer 5 to 10 questions.

McCain also made several jokes, as is his style. He called his staff jerks -- jokingly. He called Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden a "friend" but "long-winded," and he openly admitted to pandering to the AARP by saying he wants to hold a series of town hall meetings with the senior citizens organization to discuss their initiative on health care and retirement security.

When one person asked about immigration, seen by many Republicans to be their biggest domestic issue, McCain joked that "this meeting is over." His immigration plan has been very unpopular with the Republican base and was recently defeated in the US Senate.

Asked by reporters if his choice of topics was meant to appeal to independent voters who can vote in the state's presidential primary, and viewed as the reason McCain won the primary seven years ago, McCain said that independent voters were "very important."

In a follow-up question he was asked if he was picking issues that would appeal more to independents than Republicans, but McCain said he hasn't put a lot of thought into that.

"I don't know what is a Republican issue or not, but I do now that climate change is a big issue itself," McCain responded.

CONCORD, N.H. – Senator John McCain says he takes all responsibility for the troubles his presidential campaign has encountered, but that there are “no excuses” and he feels confident that he can come back.

“I am confident we will be fine, but these are difficult times,” said McCain during an hour long interview on New Hampshire Public Radio this morning. “I can spend the next hour giving you excuses, but there is no excuse. I am confident that I can do what I do best, which are town hall meetings and meeting people face to face.”

McCain is making his first campaign appearance today since four of his top aides left the campaign and his campaign bank account balance diminishes to the range of some of the bottom-tier candidates in the race.

While New Hampshire's Michael Dennehy says no specific role has been determined, three sources knowledgeable to the situation say that Dennehy will again serve in the capacity as national political director to John McCain's presidential campaign.

"No specific titles were mentioned, but Senator McCain asked me to help fill some holes and I will gladly help," Dennehy said in an interview early Thursday evening.

That said, the UnionLeader.com quoted Dennehy later Thursday night saying he had indeed accepted that job.

It is an odd turn of events. Dennehy had already been the national political director for McCain. He moved his family to Washington, D.C. earlier in the year to work out of the national headquarters. He stepped down from that role weeks ago and was preparing to move back to Concord. His replacement resigned this week amidst a campaign shake-up.

McCain will visit New Hampshire Friday and Saturday.

State Representative D.J. Bettencourt said that despite what John McCain's presidential campaign may say, his decision to drop his endorsement had nothing to do with not being offered a job.

"It was known for a quite a long time that while I believe McCain is an American hero, I was very upset over his position on immigration," said Bettencourt in his first interview on the situation. "I have a lot of respect for Senator McCain and I wish his campaign well. I just thought Mitt was a better candidate."

News of Bettencourt leaving came in an Associated Press story last week, the same day the McCain named over 30 state lawmakers to their legislative caucus. This blog highlighted that AP report.

The McCain campaign released an e-mail showing he was interested in a job with the campaign though he was not offered one. Bettencourt said his leaving was never about money and he is supporting the Romney campaign without ever asking or receiving a job.

"I understand their reaction against me. They have to be upset to lose a supporter and it is a high stakes situation," he said. "Unfortunately they had to get personal."

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.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Among the names on a list of veterans John McCain's campaign said were supporting his candidacy was the Hampton Town Chair for Mitt Romney's campaign.

In an interview, John Sangenario said he is still very much supporting Romney.

"I consider myself one of Romney's biggest supporters," Sangenario said. "I have been following him since he ran for the US Senate when we lived in Massachusetts."

Sangenario is the former Hampton Republican chairman. He figures he ended up on McCain's list after putting his name on a sign-up sheet at McCain's announcement speech in Portsmouth.

Indeed, a McCain spokeswoman said Sangenario put his name and contact information on a "Veterans sign-in sheet" at the event and then checked a box saying he would join the McCain Veteran's Coalition.

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Solidifying his support from current and former New Hampshire state Senators, John McCain's presidential campaign announced that the Arizona Republican has received the endorsement of former state Senator Carl Johnson, of Meredith.

Johnson was one of many Republicans in New Hampshire to be defeated in the last statewide election in 2006. He joins current Senators John Gallus, Peter Bragdon, Jack Barnes and Mike Downing on the McCain team.

Michael Dennehy, a fixture of New Hampshire politics since he engineered John McCain's victory in the state's presidential primary in 2000, will leave his post in McCain's Washington office and move back to the Granite State.

Dennehy said in an interview with the Globe that he will step away from his day-to-day duties as the campaign's national political director and move back to New Hampshire because it would be better for his family.

"My wife and I knew that if we didn't move to Washington and help we would regret it for the rest of our lives," Dennehy said. "But it just wasn't working out with our family."

His family has only been away from New Hampshire (and his Concord-based lobbying firm) since January.

While the move was for family reasons, his return to New Hampshire comes at a time when McCain has struggled to retain his front-runner status in the state.

Dennedy will now take on the role as a consultant for the campaign's New Hampshire and South Carolina efforts.

When South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to Republican activists aboard a cruise ship on Lake Winnipesaukee this Friday, he will likely have the chance to steer the ship, according to Belknap County Republican Chair Frank Tilton.

There isn't much steering involved, Tilton said; it's an honorary gesture.

Graham, a McCain supporter, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker of the county's Lincoln Day Dinner.

Last weekend, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty also stumped in New Hampshire for McCain.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Arizona Senator John McCain today formally entered the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination in New Hampshire, saying he was the most experienced candidate in the field.

“We face formidable challenges, but I’m not afraid of them. I’m prepared for them. I’m not the youngest candidate, but I am the most experienced,” McCain said in front of a crowd of about 300.

While McCain has said previously he would be a candidate, the formal announcement comes at a time when he is trying to jump-start his campaign. Over the course of the past year one Republican rival, Mitt Romney, raised more campaign funds McCain did in the first three months of this year. Another Republican candidate, Rudy Giuliani, has surpassed McCain in polls nation-wide.

The announcement in Portsmouth kicks off his announcement tour that will also take him to Iowa, South Carolina and Arizona.

In his 30 minute speech he discussed Iraq, government spending, securing entitlement programs, and tax cuts.

While he was joined by many who remain supporters from his 2000 campaign, many in the crowd said they were there out of curiosity to see a big political event in their hometown.

Among those was 24-year-old Joanne Pratt who walked from her downtown Portsmouth advertising firm to watch McCain.

“I think certain parts of what he said were interesting, but I wasn’t really sure what to think in the first place,” said Pratt.

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Shortly before Arizona Senator John McCain was scheduled to formally kick off his presidential campaign with a rally at a waterfront park here today, the crowd size for such a big event was relatively small.

According to Portsmouth police, about 250 people were at the event with plenty of media in tow. Many of those interviewed said they were at the event mainly out of curiosity, not necessarily because they were supporting McCain.

As a result, in this city where local parking issues dog the City Council, there were plenty of parking spots to be had in walking distance of the park about 45 minutes before the event started.

But this has all the signs for a made-for-TV event. There are plenty of McCain signs to wave in front of television cameras., and a large podium on a raised stage with prominent New Hampshire supporters behind him.

And above McCain's head will be a view of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain has announced that Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter, Nashua Alderman Dave MacLaughlin, and former State Representative Paul LaFlamme will be his Nashua co-chairs.

LaFlamme is a well-known Republican activist in the Nashua area. He lost a close primary for the state Senate in 2004.

Others in Nashua supporting McCain are Aldermen-at-Large David Deane and Brian McCarthy, Alderman Robert Dion, Alderman Mark Cookson, Nashua Treasurer Dave Fredette, former state Representative Nelson Allen, former state Representative William Mosher, and grassroots activist Dot Nice

US Senator John McCain today picked up the endorsement of
Dr. George (Gus) E.R. Kinnear II, a retired US Naval Admiral and former interim president of the University of New Hampshire.

Kinnear will oversee McCain's efforts with vetarans in Maine, where he now lives.

When Arizona Senator John McCain returns to New Hampshire later this month for the first time since late October, he will be in the state for four days, according to his campaign.

He will speak at a number of house parties and town hall meetings, as well as the Hudson Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. He will also dedicate a veteran’s shelter in Nashua.

He will be in the state from March 16-19.

Arizona Senator John McCain will make his first trip to New Hampshire in nearly five months in a few weeks, his campaign announced today.

The Republican presidential candidate is scheduled to visit the Exeter Town Hall on March 18. The rest of his trip has yet to be announced.

McCain, who was in Iowa two weeks ago, was last in New Hampshire on Oct. 27.

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Arizona Senator John McCain tomorrow will announce a list of about 30 New Hampshire office holders who are backing his presidential bid as former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney attends a day full of events in the state.

While many of the names are recycled from previous announcements, freshman state Senator Mike Downing was among the new supporters.

Downing comes from the heavily Republican border town of Salem. Last fall, McCain campaign with Downing and contributed $1,000 to his campaign.

On Thursday Romney will campaign in Concord, Nashua, Hollis, and Hampstead.

Former US Senator Warren Rudman, of New Hampshire, was once again named the national co-chair for John McCain’s exploratory presidential campaign today. He held the same position when McCain ran for president in 2000.

In addition, former New Hampshire Governor Walter Peterson will serve as the honorary state co-chair.

Former Dover City Councilor Matt Mayberry announced his support today for Arizona Senator John McCain, withdrawing his support for former New York Governor George Pataki.

Mayberry, a highly influential Republican activist known for being a "go-to" guy for candidate scheduling trips, had been one of Pataki's top supporters in New Hampshire.

He was also among those who attended a dinner a few weeks ago with Pataki at which Pataki told his supporters that he wouldn't be offended if they wanted to support other candidates while he takes his time making a decision about running for president.

Senator John McCain's presidential exploratory committee announced Wednesday morning they have the support of one state senator and three state representatives from New Hampshire's North Country.

The announcement comes just one day before McCain's rival for the Republican presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, is scheduled to visit the area.

Those signing up include state senator John Gallus, of Berlin, and state representatives Fred King Sr., Eric Stohl, John Tholl,Jr., and Bill Remick.

McCain visited the North Country last fall where he did an event for Gallus.

Arizona Senator John McCain hired a Massachusetts Republican political operative with past ties to former Governor Mitt Romney to advise him on a potential presidential campaign.

Rob Gray was a senior adviser to Romney's 2002 gubernatorial campaign. With McCain he will serve as an adviser for the New England region.

The Democratic National Committee today criticized McCain today for his reported choice of spokesperson in New Hampshire.

On Wednesday night, PoliticsNJ.com, a New Jersey political news website, reported that Jill Hazelbaker was hired by McCain to be his New Hampshire Communications director. Previously she held the same position in New Jersey for Tom Kean Jr.’s unsuccessful campaign for the US Senate.

During that campaign she came under fire for apparently misleading reporters about whether the Kean campaign was involved in making anonymous posting on liberal blogs.

“Senator McCain is taking the Double Talk Express to a new low,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. “This is one more piece of evidence that John McCain will do or say anything to try to secure the Republican nomination.”

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona filed papers Wednesday to form a presidential exploratory committee. In conjuction he started a new website, ExploreMcCain.com.

US Senator John McCain will officially form a presidential exploratory committee next week, the Associated Press reported late Friday.

McCain, who won the 2000 New Hampshire Primary, is widely seen as the front-runner for the Republican nomination in 2008.

Michael Dennehy, McCain’s top New Hampshire strategist, said Tuesday’s election “supported [McCain’s] platform” of being a moderate Republican over his more conservative rivals for the nomination.

McCain would be the first Republican to file papers to form an exploratory committee. Last week, however, US Representatve Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, announced his intention to file the same paperwork though he hasn't yet.

A Concord Monitor poll earlier in the week showed McCain ahead in New Hampshire over Republican rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.

In advance of his trip to New Hampshire tomorrow, Sen. John McCain’s political action committee released a list of 50 New Hampshire state representatives who are endorsing him.

The list includes liberal Republicans like Liz Hager of Concord and Peter Begin of Amherst. On the other side of the spectrum, McCain also has the support of conservatives like Keith Hirschmann of Manchester, Toni Soltoni of Epsom, and Kevin Waterhouse of Windham.

See the full list here.

Senator John McCain will aid embattled Republican incumbent Congressman Charlie Bass on Friday, a McCain strategist told the Globe.

McCain, the winner of the 2000 New Hampshire Republican primary and a likely candidate in for president in 2008, made the last minute decision to stump for Bass this week.

Also on Wednesday plans were announced to have First Lady Laura Bush stump for Bass and the entire Republican ticket on Monday.

McCain will campaign with Bass in Lancaster, Berlin, and then Keene.

Bass, a six-term incumbent, is facing Democrat Paul Hodes for re-election in the state’s Second Congressional District. Private polls conducted for the Bass campaign show Bass’s lead shrinking to within the margin of error.