MINNEAPOLIS- Even though he is in a three-way primary, Executive Council candidate Dan St. Hilaire (R-Concord) is spending this week at the Republican National Convention.

St. Hilaire is a delegate for U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and is competing against Bernie Sparks (R-Loudon) and Richard Wasson (R-Rollinsford) in the Republican primary in Executive Council District 2.

"My campaign has been working very hard," St. Hilaire told PolitickerNH.com. "We've been going door-to-door and going to events. We've been out there and I'm hopeful that we're going to win."

St. Hilaire said that at first many voters might not know what the Executive Council does, but they like the idea of it.

"At first there's a lot of people that don't know what we do, but once I explain the role we have in contracts and other issues they like the idea of an the extra check-and-balance."

Peter Spaulding, who lost to current Executive Councilor John Shea (D-Nelson) in 2006, said the seat is the best opportunity for Republicans to regain the majority.

"Dan St. Hilaire is a very good candidate and it's one of the best chances we have for a pick-up."

Currently Democrats hold three of the five seats on the Council.