Van Ostern declares win in Democratic EC-2 primary

CONCORD, 8:53 p.m. -- Colin Van Ostern is declaring victory in the Democratic Executive Council race in District 2.

Van Ostern, who faced Shawn Mickelonis and John D. Shea in Tuesday's primary, Tweeted at 8:45 p.m.: "Based on results from across NH, it is clear our campaign for Executive Council has won an overwhelming victory in today's primary."

He also released the following statement to the media:

“I'm grateful to the thousands of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans who are supporting our campaign. As we head toward the November election and beyond, I promise to continue to be a voice for a smart, efficient and well-managed state government that is focused first and foremost on supporting job creation and economic development.

"After a year of our Executive Council spending their time attacking Planned Parenthood, passenger rail, and consumer protections instead of focusing on the economy, today's vote is a critical first step towards bringing balance back to the State House.”

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Cookies for Ovide supporters

CONCORD, 8:32 p.m. – Before the speeches came the cookies.

After spending all day outside Henniker's polling spot holding an Ovide Lamontagne sign, Judy Flanders enjoyed the chocolate cookies with macadamia nuts and others filled with raspberry jelly served at Lamontagne's primary night party.

“Wine and cookies definitely go together,” she said before the GOP gubernatorial candidate spoke at the Grappone Conference Center on Tuesday.

Supporters congregated around tables with plastic American flags stuck in centerpiece holders and table coverings featuring stars.
Denise Fay, who voted for Lamontagne on Tuesday, wanted to hear from her candidate.

“I'm waiting for the big rally,” the Manchester voter said. “That's really why we're here. I could have had a cookie at home.”

Dave DeWitt of Dublin spent his own money to buy a few hundred campaign buttons sporting the names of the GOP presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, and his running mate, Paul Ryan.

“People like buttons,” he said. “It's a good way of spreading the word and getting people excited.”

Scott Ives, a Lamontagne financial contributor, was enjoying a drink on a darkened patio off the party ballroom.

Asked if this was the place to hide out or make deals, the Dunbarton supporter said: “Both. I would say hiding out is winning at the minute.”
He said it was important to attend Lamontagne's party.

“I wanted to be here to celebrate with him when he goes across the finish line,” Ives said.

Michael Cousineau/New Hampshire Sunday News

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Optimistic crowd at Cilley headquarters

MANCHESTER- 7:45 p.m.-- A small but optimistic crowd of supporters gathered Tuesday night to cheer what they hoped would be a come-from-behind victory in the Democratic primary for Jackie Cilley at the Shaskeen Pub on Elm Street.

A former state representative, state senator and marketing consultant, Cilley started the race behind in early polling to her main opponent, State Sen. Maggie Hassan, but closed the gap in the final weeks. Her televsion advertising featuring "pledge zombies" highlighted her status as the only major candidate who has refused to take "The Pledge" against any broadbased taxes.

Bob Davidson of Nottingham, a Democratic candidate for County Commissioner in Rockingham Country, was on hand with his son Alex, 10, and his wife, Jennifer. Davidson said he's been following the race closely, and expected it to be tight. He said he would support either candidate in the final election, but Cilley's position on taxes swayed his vote.

"Like Jackie says, we have to have a grownup conversation about it," Davidson said.

He credited Cilley for running a creative campaign that set her apart. "Conventional wisdom was that Maggie had it," he said, "but spending so much time trying to portray yourself as the next John Lynch didn't work. The momentum has been in Jackie's favor."

Davidson said the low turnout is likely to work in Cillley's favor. "With a low turnout, I think the party activists are going to go to Jackie," he said.

While Cilley enjoyed the endorsement of many public and government employee unions, Hassan was endorsed by unions representing workers in the private sector.

Nick Levasse, a three-term Democratic state representative from Ward 4 in Manchester said the race came down to a contest between a great politician, Hassan, and a great activist, Cilley.

"She (Cilley) will truly be a Granite State voice," he said. "She has a strong Granite State background that reminds me of my own, coming from a mill family."

He said Cilley would consider every issue on its merits, rather than toe the party line without question.

Attention in the room at 7:45 turned to a large screen behind a podium in the pub's backroom, where television election results were being broadcast by WMUR. Even though early results, with fewer than 10 percent of precincts reporting, showed Hassan in the lead, the pro-Cilley crowd remained upbeat.

-Dave Solomon, New Hampshire Union Leader

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Albany turnout predictions were on the money

ALBANY- 6:06 p.m. - With a little more than an hour to go Kathy Vizard, Albany town clerk, said the turnout has been higher than expected. Out of the checklist of 470, 115 had cast their ballots by 5:30 p.m.

Vizard said she had predicted a 20 percent turnout, and that moderator Ed Alkalay had predicted 25 percent.

Asked if they had anything riding up their predictions, Vizard said, "Just glory."

- Sara Young-Knox, Union Leader correspondent

Discussion of weather overrules politics in Conway

CONWAY — Voting was slow shortly after noon at the Conway Community Center in Center Conway, but that didn't deter the candidates and campaigners who stood behind the yellow tape along the building's entrance.

There seemed to be more remarks about the weather than politics.

“It's a beautiful day,” state representative candidate Dick Pollock said before answering a fellow Conway resident's question.

Voters Marion Owen, 91, and Carol Smith, 82, stopped briefly to chat with incumbent Rep. Karen Umberger.

“She's a good girl,” Smith said. “She has no axe to grind.”

The two older ladies, who came together, have been voting for decades. Owen is the sister of the late Bob Morrell, the founder of Story Land.
- Sara Young-Knox, Union Leader correspondent

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Some unhappy voters in Nashua over photo ID requests

NASHUA - 2:12 p.m. - By noon on Tuesday, about 333 ballots had been cast at Ward 3's polling site at Amherst Street Elementary School.

“This is about average for a primary election, which is essentially a party ballot,” said Diane Griffith, Ward 3 clerk. “We expect about a 15 percent turnout, and we have around 4,100 registered voters in this ward.”

Nearby at Ward 2's polling site at Charlotte Avenue Elementary School, about 406 ballots had been cast by early afternoon.

“It is a small turnout,” confirmed Maureen Lund, Ward 2 clerk.

Lund said there were a few people in the early morning who were unhappy about being asked to show voter identification.

“A couple was very loud about their disapproval,” said Lund, adding most citizens did not have any issue with the request. Lund said election volunteers were advised to inform residents that identification will be necessary for the November general election.

- Kimberly Houghton, Union Leader correspondent

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Merrimack moderator sees low turnout so far

MERRIMACK - As of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, about 1,500 ballots had been cast at the town's single polling site.

According to Moderator Lynn Christensen, she anticipates between 3,500 and 3,700 residents to vote during Tuesday's state primary election.

This is the first election where the town has just one polling station. In the past, there have typically been three polling sites throughout Merrimack.

“It is going well. It is a small turnout for a primary,” said Christensen, noting the town has about 17,000 registered voters.

While voters are heading to James Mastricola Upper Elementary School to vote on Tuesday, Christensen is hoping that school and town officials will agree on moving the single polling site to Merrimack High School for the November general election, and each election thereafter.

“I think we will get around 14,000 (voters) in November,” she explained.

- Kimberly Houghton, Union Leader correspondent

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Voting picks up Londonderry

1:50 p.m. - Shortly before 1:30 p.m., a total of 977 Republicans and 438 Democrats had passed through the Londonderry polls.

Town Clerk Meg Seymour said things had picked up since the morning, with an average of 200 voters an hour dropping by the Londonderry High School gymnasium.

As typical, the Republican campaigners dominated the local race, with the majority of sign-wavers situated by the right of the front entrance, though by early afternoon, several political opponents showed a steady presence. Across the way, Democratic senate candidate Kate Messner and state representative candidate Edward Combes waved their respective flags.

“So far, so good,” Messner said with a grin.

- April Guilmet, Union Leader correspondent

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Slow start in Londonderry

11 a.m. - Things were off to modest a start Tuesday morning, with just over 400 of the town's 17,000 or so registered voters having passed through the polls inside the Londonderry High School gymnasium several hours after they opened.

Town Clerk Meg Seymour said things had, for the most part, been going smoothly, though somewhat slowly, despite the new voter identification law.

Shortly after 9 a.m., Seymour said a small handful of voters had to be advised of the forthcoming rules after they refused to show photo identification. Those voters were still allowed to cast their ballots but were given information on the new Voter ID law and how it would be enforced come November.


- April Guilmet, Union Leader correspondent