Indiana governor to stump in New Hampshire

Gov. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) will travel to New Hampshire next week to help rally support for Marilinda Garcia (R-N.H.) in her bid to unseat a freshman Democrat, according to the NH Journal.  

The Indiana governor is also scheduled to campaign with Republican gubernatorial candidate Walt Havenstein while he’s in the state.

{mosads}Pence has flirted with a run for president in 2016.

Any trip by an out-of-state politician to New Hampshire or Iowa sparks discussion, as the two states hold the first presidential contests. A strong showing in either state could provide a much-needed jolt of energy to start the primary, but dismal results have prematurely sunk many presidential bids.

This will be Pence’s first trip to the Granite State since 2010. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, another potential 2016 candidate, plans to appear with Garcia the day before Pence.

Garcia has pulled almost even with Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.) in the polls; the latest New England College poll has Kuster leading by 46 percent to 43 percent, within the margin of error. Garcia is currently a member of the state House who has received her share of buzz in the GOP. The Republican National Committee named her a Rising Star in 2013.