Rich Ashooh, left, took the stage at the Seacoast Republican Women's Chilifest in Stratham, N.H., just after primary opponent, Rep. Frank Guinta, second from right, had finished speaking. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
SCAMMAN FARM, STRATHAM, N.H. — Rep. Frank C. Guinta had barely finished speaking when the long-legged Rich Ashooh bounded onstage Saturday to address the party faithful at the 17th annual Seacoast Republican Women's Chilifest.
"Tuesday is an important day," Ashooh said, standing on bales of hay, while in the garage behind him, 40 crocks of chili simmered. "But Wednesday is an even more important day," he said, a nod to the start of the general election campaign in the state's infamously swingy 1st District.