[img_assist|nid=3677|title=IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger at a rally for Jeanne Shaheen|desc=Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com|link=none|align=left|width=267|height=200]MANCHESTER-- The head of the International Association of Fire Fighters say the group's endorsement of U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) during the primary did not affect the group's reputation.

"Our reputation is based on loyalty, we don't treat our endorsement like a race track," IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com. "We take a look at the issues and see which horses have stood with us on the issues."

The group announced its endorsement of Dodd in the same location where the group today endorsed former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-Madbury) senatorial campaign.

"Chris Dodd had a 32 year track record supporting the issues critically important to our members and I believe doing that says to the political community out there that this is a group that places honor and loyalty above everything else and that's the kind of support we want," Schaitberger added.

Schaitberger said the IAFF endorsed Shaheen over U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) because of Shaheen's support of programs that helped Granite State firefighters.

"As governor, Jeanne Shaheen had a pretty good track record in understanding firefighters needed the training, for example the terrorism training they needed," he said. "You transfer her record and commitment to the issues that allow our members to do a pretty tough job against John Sununu who voted against funding, for example, the SAFER Act in Congress."

Responding to similar comments Schaitberger made at a Manchester rally for Shaheen, the Sununu campaign argued that the Republican Senator has supported firefighters.

"Senator Sununu has been an effective leader for the people of New Hampshire - he has stood up for firefighters and first responders time and time again by supporting legislation to create the Assistance to Fire Fighter Grants, the SAFER Grant Program and co-sponsored the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act," Lt. Terry Pfaff of the Manchester Fire Department said.

Schaitberger also discussed the effect of spending caps on local municipalities and firefighters.

"Caps really translate into restricted services. Government has to provide essential services to their communities and if you end up restricting revenues then not only are you cutting government, you have to pick and choose between education, police, firefighters," he said.

The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition has been attempting to institute spending caps as a way to reign in local government spending.

Also on PolitickerNH.com:

Firefighters rally for Shaheen