MANCHESTER--Speaking at the annual Jefferson Jackson dinner both Gov. John Lynch (D-Hopkinton) and U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes (D-Concord) both began their speeches with jokes about Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

"I need to tell you something about Susan. Something that you should all know about Susan. Susan is a hockey mom," Lynch said. "Yup you bet ya."

Hodes began his speech with a joke about his congressional district bordering Canada. Hodes said that state Sen. Peter Burling (D-Cornish) approached Barack Obama about the possibility of making Hodes his vice-presidential nominee.

"I said Peter what did you say to him. He said Barack knows you endorsed him early so he knows you, he likes you. I told him that you have a long border with Massachusetts, the entire border of Vermont, a big piece of Maine and then I said and from his district you can see Canada," Hodes joked. "I said well Peter why didn't you tell him that I've been in Canada."

During the dinner Democrats also heard from U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-Rochester), former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury), House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth) and State Senate President Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord).

The event's keynote speaker was U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) who discussed the importance of the Democratic Party and how congressional Republicans blocked attempts to regulate financial institutions.

The Party also gave Jefferson Jackson grassroots awards to Mary Frost, Jaye Hayes, Dan White, Larry Kelly, Katharine Terne, Francesca Cobb, Terry Lockhead, Larry Drake, Salme Perry and Pat Kinne. The Eleanor Roosevelt award went to Carol Apple and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt award went to David Cote. State Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) was awarded the Kathy Sullivan award for voting against putting the spending cap on the November ballot in Manchester.