Radio host, writer to challenge Hodes

16th January 2008

By PATRICK MEIGHAN Telegraph Staff
pmeighan@nashuatelegraph.com

NASHUA – Radio talk show host and Telegraph columnist Jennifer Horn will run for U.S. Congress, Horn said Tuesday.

The Republican will try to turn back freshman Democrat Paul Hodes in the 2008 race for the 2nd District seat.

She said she'll formally announce her plans today on her 10 a.m. show on WSMN 1590 AM.

Horn, who has never held political office, admits running for U.S. Congress is a daring foray into politics.

"It is a huge first step, and I'm very excited about it," Horn said.

Horn said it's time that "neighbors" are elected and Congress is wrested from the grasp of lawyers and professional politicians.

"I, like most other voters, have gotten fed up with Congress," she said.

Congress now caters to special interests and not the voters, Horn said."I think we've reached the point where we want real change," she said.

In a press release she intends to issue today, Horn criticized Hodes specifically.

"Two years ago, voters gave Paul Hodes a chance. When he was elected president of the freshman class, Paul Hodes was handed a golden opportunity to show leadership. New Hampshire voters sent Paul Hodes on a mission to change Washington . . . instead, Washington changed Paul Hodes," Horn said in the release.

"Paul Hodes is a do-nothing representative in a do-nothing Congress," she said.

Hodes couldn't be reached Wednesday afternoon to comment. However, Matt Robinson, Hodes' chief of staff, issued a statement in response.

"Since coming to Congress just over a year ago, Congressman Hodes has been working hard to change the direction of our country and do the work that New Hampshire families elected him to do. That continues to be his whole focus," Robinson said in an e-mail response.

"He is working to bring honesty and accountability back to Congress, a cause which saw great progress when the landmark ethics legislation that he co-sponsored was signed into law," Robinson said in part.

Horn's column in The Telegraph will be suspended during her campaign, an editor said.

"Jennifer's column in The Sunday Telegraph will be on hiatus for the duration of her campaign," said Marty Karlon, Sunday and features editor of The Telegraph.

"In fairness to other candidates, the paper couldn't publish a weekly column by one candidate – even if it isn't political in nature – without offering the same space to others," Karlon said.

Horn acknowledged that putting together an organization to raise money for a Congressional campaign will be a challenge, but she said she's confident she can be successful.

She said she already has one staff member and a team of volunteers behind her.

Patrick Meighan can be reached at 594-6518 or pmeighan@nashua telegraph.com.