LACONIA -- Democrats from throughout Belknap County celebrated Independence Day by marching in Laconia's Annual Fourth of July Parade.  According to Belknap County Democratic Committee Chair Lynn Chong, an estimated sixty Democrats took part carrying signs supporting both state and national candidates, making it among the largest groups participating.

Clearly, Dr. Richard Stuart, one of the five Democratic candidates from Laconia vying for a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, has managed to rally voters to his campaign, and volunteers for Obama are as active now as they were for the primary.

Several participants observed that while the Democrats were quite enthusiastic, there was little visible support for Republicans. One admitted that "I kind of felt sorry for John Sununu and Jeb Bradley," referring to the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator and the former Republican member of Congress who represented New Hampshire's District One until being swept out of office in 2006 by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter. 

"They both walked in the parade, but it looked as though the only people joining them were their staffers," he added.  "It was actually pretty  pathetic."