ROCHESTER — Feelings of confidence flowed out from a GOP gathering in the Lilac City Friday night, where state Sen. Jeb Bradley urged concerned Republicans to join in the mission to take back the government from Democrats.



The Strafford County GOP organized a Lincoln-Reagan dinner, an informal reception for candidates at the Rochester Country Club Friday night. The room was packed with New Hampshire residents upset with how the Democratic majority has increased spending and the role of government. Bradley capitalized on the emotions to rally more people to join the GOP cause.



"This is a job that we all have to do," he said. "We need to fill each and every slot in the New Hampshire House."



Though that job is far from done, Bradley also took a moment to congratulate the more than 100 people in attendance. He said the same event last year only drew about 20 people.



The energy was high among those in attendance, and Bradley told everyone now is the time to run with confidence.



"If you think you can't run, get the word 'can't' out of your vocabulary," he said.



One in attendance who was not ready to announce his candidacy — not yet, at least — was Republican National Committee member Sean Mahoney, of Portsmouth. Though media reports have linked him to the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, he made no commitment Friday night.



He did say that Republicans are "fired up" right now and unified against bailouts, government growth over individual liberties and the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, D-Rochester, who he described as an "enabler" for policies bankrupting the country.



Kaitlyn Smith, the chair of the county GOP, called Bradley the "best cheerleader" the Republican party has right now. She said he enhanced the energy surrounding the party and understands the issues and how to address them.



Bradley's speech followed another that also received resounding applause. In a short video depicting the rise of Democrat power and the shift toward discontent a year after President Barack Obama's inauguration, Ronald Reagan was featured, saying, "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem." That sentiment was echoed by both candidates and those who were there simply to support the GOP and enjoy an informal opportunity to chat with those seeking their votes.



Jim Forsythe of Strafford, a state Senate candidate, said people are becoming discouraged with increased government spending. The sense of the GOP is that the "tides are turning" and the country will, come November, begin its turn back toward fiscal conservatism, he said.



"We have a spending problem, not a revenue problem," he said, noting 25 percent spending increases in the last two terms. He said, if elected, he will work to cut taxes and bring jobs back to this state.



Forsythe, before Bradley's speech, also exhorted the importance of the state House of Representatives. The 400 representatives are closest to the people, and as such, are those most critical to making constituents' voices heard, he said.



"It's going to start really with the state House," he said. "Tonight's really about those guys." According to Smith, ticket prices and proceeds from a 50-50 raffle at the gathering would go to the coffers of the GOP, which will use the money for campaign purposes.



An interesting dynamic evidenced at the gathering was that the GOP is making the effort to win back seats a family affair. Not only are brothers Fenton and Warren Groen, of Rochester, running for state Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, but Laura Jones and her son, Kyle, 18, are both running for a House seat, as are Carol Vita and her husband, Lou, of Middleton.



"We're helping each other out," Laura Jones said of her campaign efforts with her son. "We're going to take back control of the state House."



Jones said that sentiment was not only between her and her son, but that all Republican candidates seem to be supporting one another. She said it is more important to support the GOP's ideals than fighting with each other at the Primary level.



"We're so concerned about the economy," she said. "We're all here to help each other."



