NASHUA-State Senate candidate Paul LaFlamme (R-Nashua) thinks the possibility that state Rep. Betty Hall (I-Brookline) will appear on the November ballot as a competitor will make the race "close."

Hall is staging an independent bid to appear on the ballot in the district 12 state Senate race between LaFlamme and Peggy Gilmour (D-Hollis).

"I think the people that were going to vote for me will vote for me, the people that were going to vote for Betty will vote for Betty, and the people that were going to vote for Mrs. Gilmour will vote for Mrs. Gilmour," LaFlamme said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com.  

"And we all have to do our job getting out our voters and getting our message out. I think Rep. Hall will take votes from Mrs. Gilmour, but I also think she will take votes from me and now it's a three person race."

The Nashua real estate broker added, "with three people in this race it's going to be a close race."

Discussing the Republican state Senate Political Action Committee, LaFlamme said he is planning to win without help from the state Republican apparatus.

"I welcome any kind of support that people offer me, but to be honest with you, I plan on running on my own merit. I'm not looking to the state party or the Senate PAC to fund my campaign or work on my behalf," he said. "Whatever they would like to do to support me, I mean obviously, I would accept and am grateful for, but I'm planning to win on my own efforts."

LaFlamme said he is looking forward to dealing with the "nuts-and-bolts" of the campaign.

 "I think I'm doing well," LaFlamme said. "We've put together a great plan and we're starting to get my message out. I'm really excited to be getting to the nuts-and-bolts of signs and going door-to-door and those kinds of things that are part of campaigning that I really enjoy."

In 2004, LaFlamme lost to Harry Haytayan (R-Nashua) in a competitive Republican primary for the same seat LaFlamme is now seeking. Haytayan went on to lose to state Sen. David Gottesman (D-Nashua).