Bosse says spat with Horn wouldn’t affect race, turnout will decide primary

CONCORD -- Congressional candidate Grant Bosse (R-Hillsboro) said recent controversies involving one of his rival's campaign manager will not impact the outcome of the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary.

Late last month, Bosse accused Jennifer Horn's (R-Nashua) campaign manager, David Chesley, of threatening to release information about Bosse's father's legal problems in retaliation for Bosse filing a complaint against Horn with the Federal Election Commission.

"I think all the silliness with her campaign manager really isn't going to affect anyone. People who are siding with me were probably going to vote for me and people who are siding with her were probably going to vote for her," Bosse said. "I felt it was important to show that a candidate's family is off limits and I made that point and moved on to talk about my message."

Bosse added that he thinks the 2nd district Republican primary is "wide open."

"I think the primary is wide open," Bosse said. "It's going to be a turnout election, and if I can get voters that I'm reaching to go out and vote on September 9th, I can win the nomination and the same can be said for any of the candidates."

Although Bosse's name has not been included in UNH polls for the race, he told PolitickerNH.com that no Republican candidate in the primary has the name recognition to do well in a theoretical match up against U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord).

"None of the candidates have district wide name recognition and you've seen that in two straight polls in which there's been virtually no movement among the Republican candidates they've included," he said. "With the nomination in hand, whoever we put up against Paul Hodes, will increase their name recognition and the question is are you going to have a consistent conservative message to contrast with Paul Hodes. That's where I think I have the advantage. But in terms of name recognition and electability right now I doubt that any Republican wouldn't look like they're 20 points down against Paul Hodes."

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