[img_assist|nid=2123|title=Captain America campaigning for Bob Clegg|desc=Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com|link=none|align=left|width=250|height=188]KEENE- State Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) said at a Republican debate that he is "embarrassed" by U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord).

"Paul Hodes has done a ton of things that has not only embarrassed me as an American but also as a citizen of New Hampshire," Clegg said.

The debate sponsored by the Cheshire County Republican Committee featured Grant Bosse of Hillsboro, Jennifer Horn of Nashua, state Sen. Bob Clegg of Hudson and Jim Steiner of Concord. Alfred L'Eplattenier of Rindge did not participate. The winner of the Republican primary will compete against Hodes in the general election.

Candidates were asked what is Hodes biggest mistake.

"I'm going with perpetuating the single worst government policy and that's the farm policy," Bosse said.

"He must have left his backbone in his suitcase because we haven't seen it once since he got to Washington," Horn said. "Paul Hodes has never fought for anyone but himself."

Steiner said Hodes was wrong to vote against a recent FISA law.

"He has endangered everyone."[img_assist|nid=2125|title=Crowd at Republican debate|desc=Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com|link=none|align=right|width=220|height=165]

The candidates began the forum stating the reasons why people should vote for them.

"We're going to choose the message of the Republican Party when we choose the messenger," Bosse said. "I'm the only candidate to put together a conservative message."

"I'm different because as John McCain said when he campaigned here there's too few veterans serving in Congress," Steiner told the crowd of Republicans. "My vote will always be a vote of experience."

The candidates touched upon energy, home mortgages, taxes, the Iraq war, NAFTA, highway infrastructure, illegal immigration and the declining dollar.

Clegg said he would like to see the government invest money in geothermal energy.

"We need to give some incentives to technologies we know that work."

While, Horn said that nation should undergo an "Apollo type mentality" to solve the energy crisis..

"I understand how the rising cost of gas can cripple the family budget," Horn said.

All the candidates agreed that there should be more nuclear power plants and domestic drilling.

Clegg also took a shot at mentioning a Democratic tracker who was taping the debate.

"He is here to bring the truth back to people who have not heard it," Clegg said.

State Sen., and gubernatorial candidate, Joe Kenney (R-Wakefield), state Rep. Steve Stepanek (R-Amherst) candidate for Executive Council, former state Sen. Tom Eaton (R-Keene) and state Rep. Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry) also attended the debate.