Chris Dodd

IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger at a rally for Jeanne Shaheen: Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com

MANCHESTER-- The head of the International Association of Fire Fighters say the group's endorsement of U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) during the primary did not affect the group's reputation.

"Our reputation is based on loyalty, we don't treat our endorsement like a race track," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com. "We take a look at the issues and see which horses have stood with us on the issues."

The group announced its endorsement of Dodd in the same location where the group today endorsed former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-Madbury) senatorial campaign.

Two well-known New Hampshire Democrats have endorsed the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee. Jim McConaha and Valery Mitchell, who have pledged their support to U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), will serve as co-chairs of "New Hampshire Democrats for McCain."

The announcement comes the day before U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), McCain's presumptive general election opponent, campaigns in New Hampshire with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Jamie Radice has been hired to be the communications director for U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's (D-Rochester) congressional office.

"I'm thrilled to be working for Congresswoman Shea-Porter,"  Radice said in a statement.  "I look forward to promoting her message of supporting our troops and veterans, standing up for the middle class, and fighting for New Hampshire families."

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and former Democratic presidential candidate, Chris Dodd will be visiting Saint Anselm College, later this month.

On Friday, April 25th Dodd is scheduled to talk to a politics class on his book Letters from Nuremberg: My Father's Narrative of a Quest for Justice.

This is Dodd's first visit to New Hampshire since he dropped out of the presidential contest, shortly after the Iowa caucuses.

Using an open format that allows almost anyone to post comments, the website Blue Hampshire has become a daily read for Granite State Democrats.

Founded in November 2006 by bloggers Mike Caulfield, Laura Clawson and Dean Barker the site now has 1,300 registered users and receives almost 5,000 page views per day.