Voter still deciding their choice for New Hampshire's new governor in two weeks may want to consider this: It comes down to which candidate really understands and embraces the New Hampshire Advantage. We think Ovide Lamontagne wins, hands down.

Lamontagne is a businessman who has helped many others, including Catholic Medical Center and the St. Mary’s Bank credit union, to grow and provide jobs and deal with government taxes, regulations and red tape.

He lives in the Manchester house and modest neighborhood where he grew up. He pays taxes here. He understands that New Hampshire is a state where people give back because they want to. He has chaired the state Board of Education and has given generously of his time to other volunteer efforts.

His opponent, Maggie Hassan, is a classic liberal politician who lives in the lovely confines of the private and exclusive Phillips Exeter Academy. Interestingly, she claims to be a champion of property taxpayers, but of course doesn’t pay them or the utilities on her school-supplied house.

And, like the classic liberal, she tells others that they shouldn't have the same educational opportunities afforded to families like her own.

She opposes educational choice for parents of modest means. Like liberals before her, she tries to smear her opponent as an “extremist,’’ even though it is she who opposes the sensible bipartisan school-funding plan that Lamontagne and Gov. John Lynch helped craft.

Tellingly, former Democratic assistant House leader Rick Newman endorsed Republican Lamontagne on Friday, noting Hassan's involvement in raising taxes on campgrounds, gambling winnings and small business.

Ovide Lamontagne would be the state's best salesman because he is truly proud of the New Hampshire Advantage of low taxes and small, frugal government.

Maggie Hassan claims to get this advantage but her actions speak otherwise. She is on record embracing a state income tax before deciding that she needed to take the pledge to veto one, and she says she is embarrassed when snide left-wing comics make fun of New Hampshire on television.

We will take the governor who is proud of New Hampshire rather than one who is embarrassed by it. How about you?