[img_assist|nid=4172|title=Doug Kruse waiting to hear from a voter in Manchester|desc=Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com|link=none|align=middle|width=420|height=315]MANCHESTER--Knocking on doors on a Saturday morning might be a nerve-wracking experience for some politicians, but for Doug Kruse it was just another day on the campaign trail.

Kruse, a Manchester school board member, is running for the state senate against incumbent state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) in Senate District 18.

"I feel very encouraged about this race," Kruse told PolitickerNH.com as he campaigned in Manchester's Westwood neighborhood.

Kruse has represented the neighborhood over the past five years on the school board and his name recognition was evident as he knew almost every resident and pointed out houses that would put a sign on their front lawn.

"My very first time I did it I was a bit nervous," Kruse said talking about what it is like going door-to-door. "I find it is the most fun part of the campaign. I absolutely love going door-to-door, I would do it 24/7 if I could."

Kruse said that he is out knocking on doors every day of the week and is using his fiscal message to appeal to voters.

"When you have a candidate that's for low-taxes and lower-spending that resonates with people in Manchester and Litchfield," he said. "There's a lot of independents in this section of Manchester and the message appeals to them."

Kruse added, "even if you look at the Democratic voters in south Manchester they tend to be fiscal conservatives."

Senate District 18 covers southern Manchester wards and Litchfield.

Discussing the impact of the elimination of straight ticket voting, he said that having John McCain at the top of the ballot will benefit his race but he is not relying upon McCain's ballot presence to get elected.

"I think with these down ballot races it's going to be who's going out there and meeting people," Kruse said. "John McCain is not going to carry me over the top and Barack Obama is not going to carry Betsi DeVries over the top."