Fringe fun and Chuck Norris in New Hampshire

by Jill Zuckman

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Following the Obama-Oprah-palooza Sunday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena, the state and its voters take a breather this week with most of the presidential candidates campaigning elsewhere.

But that won't stop the fringe candidates from coming out. The people who no one has ever heard of before will attend their own presidential forum in Manchester on Thursday afternoon. The New Hampshire Political Library, which sponsors the event, politely refers to it as the "lesser known candidates forum," held every four years.

Twenty-eight candidates were invited, along with three who are running for vice president; a three-person panel will question them.

Former Sen. John Edwards' parents will be standing in for him Tuesday and Wednesday this week in the Lakes region and the North Country. Wallace and Bobbi Edwards will be talking to voters at The Soda Shoppe in Laconia Tuesday, as well as Mocha Rizing in Center Sandwich, and the Tea Birds Café in Berlin.

Saturday and Sunday, the newest frontrunner arrives with his own Oprah-like companion. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will be campaigning with martial arts icon Chuck Norris during town hall meetings in Berlin and Littleton on Saturday.

Sunday, Huckabee will be a guest speaker at the "Season of Giving" event in Londonderry to promote local organizations.