They’re calling it New Hampshire Primary Radio Row, and it will bring nationally-syndicated radio talkers and local New Hampshire radio stations into direct contact with the candidates for the Republican presidential nomination in the days leading up to the 1/10/12 primary election.
The “Row” will be set up in the Manchester Radisson, which will be in operation from 5AM to 12M starting Saturday 1/7/12 and running all the way through the 10th. Candidate interviews figure to be a primary drawing card for the pre-primary radio event.
Talkers Magazine and Talk Radio News Service organized the event, along with local backer New Hampshire Energy Forum. Greater Media talker WTKK-AM Boston is the primary radio sponsor; along with Great Eastern Radio’s WTPL-FM Hillsborough NH.
Talkers’ Michael Harrison was pleased with the scope of the event, and commented, “With over 30 shows confirmed to date, 2012 will prove to be the largest radio row we’ve organized.”
According to Talkers, New Hampshire and neighboring New England states Vermont and Massachusetts will be represented by the likes of: Ken Pittman and Phil Paleologos of WBSM 1420AM, Fairhaven, MA; Richard Girard of WGAM 1250AM, Manchester, NH; Paul Westcott of WGIR 610AM, Manchester, NH; Dan Mitchell of WKBK 1290AM, Keene, NH; George Russell of WSMN 1590AM, Nashua, NH; Jim Braude, Margery Eagen, Mark Johnson of WDEV 550 AM of Waterbury, VT; Steve West of WKVT 1790 AM of Brattleboro, VT; Doug Meehan and Michael Graham of WTTK 96.5FM, Boston; John Harper of WUVR 1490AM, Dartmouth, NH; Tony Lopes of WVBF 1530AM, Taunton, MA; and Jeff Santos of WWZN 1500AM, Boston.
National syndicated talkers taking part in the event represent the full ideological spectrum, and include Neal Boortz, Kate Delaney, Steve Gill, Thom Hartmann, Carole Marks, Michael Skoda, Roger Hedgecock, Gina Loudon, Ed Morrissey, Warren Ballantine, Alan Nathan, Mike Siegel, the Rev. Al Sharpton, the National Rifle Association News program, the John Gambling Show, as well all the stations of the Talk Radio News Service.
There are even a handful of single-station talkers making the trip to the Granite State, including Stephen K. Bannon of KABC 790AM, Los Angeles; Mark Bernier of WNDB 1150AM, Daytona Beach, FL; Michael Berry of KTHR 740AM, Houston, TX; Lee Davis of WYDE 101.1FM, Birmingham, AL; Scott Hennen of KNOX 1310AM, Grand Forks, ND; Mark Skoda of WMPS 1210AM, Memphis, TN and Lisa Wexler of WFAS 1230AM, Westchester, NY, among others.
“2012 is shaping up to be the most interesting Presidential race I’ve seen in years, and we’re glad to bring together some of the biggest names in radio to cover it. This is our third New Hampshire primary radio row and it certainly looks like it will raise the bar for future primary broadcast events,” said Ellen Ratner, Washington Bureau Chief for Talk Radio News Service.
