VIDEO: Gov. Lynch Endorses Hassan

Gov. John Lynch, D-Hopkinton, endorsed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Maggie Hassan in front of a packed room of supporters including other Democrats, elected officials, and representatives from public and private sector unions.

Lynch praised Hassan as an effective state senator who was compassionate, worked on issues in a bipartisan manner, and was the leader the state needed. He also listed a number of initiatives Hassan worked on with him including “the nation’s toughest laws against sex predators,” kindergarten for all children, and health care regulations “that kept insurance companies from discriminating against sick and older workers” while expanding health care options for workers and children.

“I am proud to have worked with Maggie on building that strategy to move New Hampshire forward,” Lynch said.

Hassan thanked Lynch for the endorsement noting that he worked hard to put “the people of New Hampshire first.” She said the initiatives Lynch listed were examples of what she would take to the Statehouse if elected. Hassan mentioned numerous times that she would continue the work she performed with Lynch, while committing to vetoing a sales or income tax.

Hassan criticized her Republican opponent, Ovide Lamontagne, for supporting the teaching of Creationism in public schools while wanting to divert money from public schools to private, religious schools. She accused him of calling the aforementioned kindergarten requirement “a mistake” and for wanting a Constitutional amendment that would end the state’s responsibility to pay for public schools. Lamontagne, Hassan said, would ban abortion in all cases and “women and their doctors would be treated as criminals.” She added that he would not allow gay couples to marry.

“Ovide Lamontagne has said that he wants to be a radically different governor than John Lynch,” she said, “and he seems intent on proving it with his extreme policy positions.”

The lobby of the Concord City Auditorium, usually an area set up for coffee klatches, snack sales before plays, and potluck dinners, was setup like a Hollywood movie set, complete with hued blue lighting, music blaring through a public address system before and after the event, and a professional camera crew preparing to capture the moment. The footage of Lynch and Hassan together will be used for a future television advertising campaign.