Editor's note: The following is a weekly look at the various New Hampshire and federal races, leading up to the 2008 election.

Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will be in the state next week campaigning for 2nd Congressional District candidate Bob Clegg.

Clegg, a Republican state senator from Hudson, served as chairman of Huckabee's New Hampshire primary campaign.

Huckabee will arrive in New Hampshire on Sunday, June 8, for a "Summer Jam" with Clegg in Nashua, where Clegg's campaign said Huckabee might even play a few tunes on stage. During his presidential bid, Huckabee showed off his musical abilities (he plays the bass guitar) at numerous campaign stops.

On Monday, May 9, the former Arkansas governor will join Clegg as he officially files for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Concord. He will also accompany Clegg to the Lilac Luncheon in Bedford later that day.

"I am honored to have Mike Huckabee join me in the New Hampshire Statehouse as I make my campaign official by filing my papers with the secretary of state," Clegg said in a prepared statement. "Mike Huckabee represents what is right in American politics — where a couple of kids that started with little can run for a federal office and have a shot."

Huckabee had previously endorsed Clegg, saying he likes Clegg's positions on national defense, the fair tax, border security and the family, among other issues.

Clegg is running against Grant Bosse, Jim Steiner and Jennifer Horn in the Republican primary for the chance to take on Democrat Paul Hodes in the general election.

Hodes' carpooling proposal draws fire

Hodes held a press conference in Concord last week to announce that he plans to introduce legislation to help New Hampshire commuters struggling with the high gas prices.

He said his legislation would create a tax credit for businesses for 50 percent of any amount they pay to their employees as part of a reimbursement program for carpooling to work. It would also allow state and local governments to participate, and they would receive additional annual funding for programs that encourage carpooling to work.

"We must do more to help New Hampshire commuters who often have to drive more than 20 or 30 miles just to get to the office," Hodes said. "With record high gas prices, New Hampshire commuters are spending more of their paycheck just to get to work."

Two of Hodes' potential opponents — Bosse and Clegg — were quick to issue statements criticizing his proposal.

Bosse said if Hodes is serious about addressing gas prices, he should start by undoing the damage some of his votes have caused.

By blocking access to domestic reserves, blocking the construction of new refineries, and voting to expand the use of ethanol, Bosse said, Hodes has contributed to the high price of gasoline.

"We are paying a price for Paul Hodes' failed policies every time we fill up," he said.

Clegg called Hodes' proposal "a quick fix, headline grabbing, taxpayer-funded solution" to a long-term problem. He also criticized Hodes for his support of ethanol subsidies.

"We need to find renewable and alternative sources of energy and relinquish our dependency on foreign oil by looking at the oil we have domestically," he said. "That is how you solve problems."

More gas talk

Gas prices were also on U.S. Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen's mind last week. The former governor met with voters at Suzie's Diner in Hudson on Thursday to discuss the impact of rising gas prices on New Hampshire's middle class families.

Shaheen, a Democrat, is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. John Sununu, who narrowly defeated her six years ago.

Sununu meets with veterans

While his opponent was talking about gas prices, Sununu was busy this week addressing veterans' issues.

On Friday morning, he addressed the Easter Seals Veterans Services Mental Health Summit on combat-related health care and mental health treatment for veterans and their families. The event was held at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester.

Later in the day, he attended the Memorial Day ceremony at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen and met with veterans in Manchester to update them on his efforts to expand health care services available through the VA hospital.

Sununu is one of several federal lawmakers who have called for the veterans hospital to be restored to a full-service one. New Hampshire is the only state without a full-service veterans hospital. The hospital was downgraded from a full-service one eight years ago.

Former opponent backs Stephen

John Stephen, a Republican candidate for Carol Shea-Porter's 1st Congressional District seat, picked up an endorsement last week from Jim Forsythe of Strafford, a former candidate for the same seat.

Forsythe will serve as co-chairman of Strafford County for Stephen's campaign. He is the chairman of the Strafford Republican Committee and the Strafford Taxpayer's Coalition, and serves as fundraising chairman for the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, a group whose aim is to keep the state from adopting an income tax.

He was a candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat for about two months, before dropping out in April.

That left Stephen and former Congressman Jeb Bradley to battle it out in the Republican primary for the chance to face Democrat Shea-Porter in the November election.