Former Attorney General Phil McLaughlin has withdrawn from the Democratic race for Governor.
McLaughlin's announcement comes just one day after former USNH Board of Trustees' Chair John Lynch threw his hat into the ring.
New Hampshire Public Radio's David Darman has more.
Phil McLaughlin says he's pulling out of the governor's race to make way for a candidate that has a better chance of winning.
I believe at this time john lynch is better positioned than i am, to accomplish what i think is the number one goal, which is to get the state moving in a positive direction with positive and responsive leadership and that means defeating craig benson. if i thought i had a better chance of doing that than john lynch, then i'd be in this race.
McLaughlin's withdrawal leaves the field clear for John Lynch, who only Monday filed papers to run for governor.
Last week, House Democratic leader Peter Burling also took himself out of his party's race for the corner office.
Both men have thrown their support behind John Lynch.
Lynch says he's honored to have their endorsements.
...they're two outstanding individuals who have committed a significant part of their lives to public service here in the state of nh. so, i'm flattered that they would endorse me in this campaign.
With McLaughlin and Burling out of the race, and assuming no other Democrats get in, Lynch won't face a primary election.
Party chairman Kathy Sullivan says one candidate can more easily marshal money for a general election if there is no primary fight.
Sullivan also says a primary between John Lynch and Phil McLaughlin would have strained each campaign in other ways.
.. there's a limited number of resources and a limited number of qualified staff people in the state of nh and so when you're trying to set up a campaign organization its difficult when you've got two people trying to do the same thing for the same race.
New Hampshire Republicans say Democratic leaders have backed a flawed candidate in John Lynch.
Lynch on Monday resigned his post as chairman of the board of trustees of the University System of New Hampshire.
State Republican chairman Jayne Millerick says Lynch lied to Governor Benson when he was reappointed to that position in 2002.
Millerick says Lynch promised then that he would not run for office during his term.
And she says that lie makes him untrustworthy as a candidate.
you know when he says that he will pledge to veto a sales or an income tax you know voters have to be careful on whether that's something that they believe or whether its something that they question based on the fact that he's already gone back on his word once in this campaign and its been less than 24 hours that he's been in it.
And in less than 24 hours the mud is already flying.
But if John Lynch were expecting a honeymoon period to settle into his role as the Democratic standard bearer, its clear he won't get it.
