Josh Rogers

That Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire is even being considered as Mitt Romney's running mate is somewhat remarkable. Her state has just four electoral votes, and Ayotte has been a U.S. senator for less than two years. But as Romney nears his choice, Ayotte remains in the discussion.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spent his July Fourth holiday marching in a New Hampshire parade. He also backtracked on a top adviser's statement calling the individual mandate in the Obama health care law a fee or a fine. Romney says the Supreme Court ruled that it's a tax.

Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire is the latest politician to appear on the campaign trail with presumed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. That's fueled speculation that Ayotte is being considered as a running mate.

Until the current fight over a similar federal regulation, the New Hampshire law requiring contraceptive coverage was on the books for more than a decade without controversy. Now Republicans in the state Legislature are trying to carve out a religious exemption.

Opponents of same-sex marriage believe that if a Democrat-dominated Statehouse could vote in gay marriage, a Republican-dominated one may be able to vote it out. A bill to repeal the law has the backing of some top leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature, but rescinding rights is never easy.

The former Massachusetts governor was citing lofty themes of patriotism on the campaign trail in New Hampshire Tuesday before heading off on a bus tour of Iowa.

A former Democrat turned Republican, he supports both the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement. The former Louisiana governor isn't going anywhere in the polls, but he is enjoying the ride.

Through public events, phone banks and door-to-door canvassing, the GOP presidential contenders are working full speed to reach out to voters in New Hampshire. Political strategists say a good ground game can make a difference at the ballot box.

It was a busy day for presidential politicking in New Hampshire Monday. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich traded barbs over Romney's proposed $10,000 bet with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, as well as Gingrich's consulting fees earned working for mortgage giant Freddie Mac.

Tea Party voters were expected to play a key role in the 2012 Republican presidential primary, but with movement hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry low in the polls, and Herman Cain now out of the race, the Tea Party vote remains very much in play. New Hampshire Public Radio's Josh Rogers reports.