In three New Hampshire Senate races this primary, moderate Republicans are facing opponents from the political right. One of those races is Senate District 11, where conservative Republican Peter Bragdon is challenging first term incumbent Andrew Peterson.
As New Hampshire Public Radio's Amy Quinton reports, some say the contest can be seen as a debate over what it means to be a conservative.
The town of Milford is known for its Labor Day parade.
(nat sound)
But in an election year, it isn't the number of marching bands that makes the parade worthwhile.
It's the number of votes that will be cast.
In the Republican Primary, the candidate who doesn't do well here could lose the race.
24 (hey andy, how are you?)
First term incumbent Andy Peterson knows this.
He represents Milford and the nine other towns in district 11.
(we're certainly taking this race seriously, we're out there meeting people and presenting a positive case)
Peterson will need to present a positive case.
He's running against former state representative and Milford School Board Chair Peter Bragdon.
In the primary two years ago, Peterson just squeeked by Bragdon and another Milford conservative, former State Representative Gary Daniels.
This year, the two conservatives have joined forces, with Daniels running Bragdon's campaign.
St. Anselm College Politics Professor Dante Scala says that could make it a tough race for Peterson.
"this was a district in which he only won 36-perent of the vote last time around and arguably only won because he was going up against candidates both from the town of Milford, which has a good number of votes in that district, so really his problem is going to be the eastern end of the district."
Peterson spent the day handing out buttons and pinwheels, and trying to play his cards right with Milford voters.
He touts his education funding record in a district that received four million dollars less under the previous school funding law.
"I fought that plan for two years and we finally got it turned around at the end of the session."
Peterson doesn't want voters to forget he delivered real dollars to the district.
But Peterson's opponent --Peter Bragdon - says you have to look beyond the money.
He suggests that Peterson is a Democrat in Republican clothing.
"I think 46-percent of the time he's voted with the senate democratic leadership so when republicans elect a republican to office, they expect him to vote a little more often with republicans."
Peterson say's he's voted with Republicans 80-percent of the time.
But Bragdon says Peterson is fundamentally different than most republicans - particularly on social issues.
He cites Peterson's vote against parental notification for minors having abortions.
And on fiscal issues, he says state spending is out of control.
"the state budget is growing at double digit percent- every two year budget they passed. With a republican in the corner office, we could have stopped that and we didn't."
Bragdon supports Governor Craig Benson's idea for a taxpayer bill of rights, which would cap the growth in spending to the rate of inflation.
Peterson is upfront about his opposition to the bill. And he sees that as the defining issues in this primary. For Peterson, this contest is all about what it means to be a conservative.
"to me it's conservative to keep the state the way it is, i would suggest its radical not conservative to make very significant changes that have impacts that haven't quite been fully analyzed."
Peterson has one advantage over Bragdon - he's raised more than 80-thousand dollars for his campaign.
Bragdon only has about 20-thousand, most of it is his own money.
And while the candidates argue over who is the true conservative, if you ask some voters, Bragdon's message is working.
Milford resident Joel Gibbs.
"I think peter Bragdon is going to be the choice for Republicans, because he's definitely the more conservative choice, the issue with Peterson is why vote for Peterson over a Democrat, really it's the same thing."
But other Republican voters in Milford don't think Republicans should fight each other - even in a primary.
Milford resident Judy parker says she'll likely support the incumbent.
"I'm just kind of lamenting that we've got a Republican squabble in the primary, because I've seen that happen more than once and I've seen a democrat elected as a result of it."
That may be a legitimate worry.
Democrats are watching closely.
If Bragdon wins, they may put someone on the general election ballot.
For NHPR news, I'm Amy Quinton.
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