Advertisement Updated NH Primary Source: Bernie backers invited to have photos taken with Hillary Huge day for Democrats in Portsmouth on Tuesday Share Shares Copy Link Copy

New Hampshire Primary Source covers breaking and behind-the-scenes news and analysis on all things political in the Granite State. John DiStaso is the most experienced political writer in New Hampshire and has been writing a weekly column since 1982. The column posts at 5 a.m. Thursdays, with updates throughout the week. (Monday evening, July 11 update.) PHOTOS WITH HILLARY. Tuesday morning will bring to an end the long, arduous and at times, bitter, race for the Democratic presidential nomination. When Bernie Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton at a Portsmouth High School rally, all that will remain will be the official nomination of Clinton in Philadelphia in two week. But will Sanders’ supporters – especially the new, young voters who formed the core of his movement – slide over to suddenly back Clinton? And not just back, but remain active, now on her behalf? Many will, but some simply won’t be able to bring themselves to do that – at least not at first. And that’s why, after Tuesday, Clinton will be counting on Sanders to go beyond the endorsement and become an active supporter – if not a surrogate. Expect Sanders to tell his supporters Tuesday that his candidacy ended up moving Clinton to more populist positions on a number of issues – from health care to the minimum wage to Wall Street reforms to expanding Social Security. And expect Sanders to invoke what Democrats believe will be the overwhelming factor in bringing his supporters to not just support, but also to mobilize, for Clinton – Donald J. Trump. “If the threat of a Trump presidency doesn’t motivate progressive Democrats, even if you don’t particularly like Hillary Clinton, I don’t know what will,” said a New Hampshire Sanders supporter. If the “threat” of Trump doesn’t do the trick, will a photo with Hillary win them over? We understand that she’ll hold a photo session prior to the rally with key supporters – not only her own longtime supporters, but also Sanders supporters. We understand that among the top Sanders supporters who’ve agreed to line up for a photo are Sanders state steering committee members Dudley Dudley, a former executive councilor; former AFL-CIO president Mark MacKenzie; prominent LGBT rights leader Mo Baxley and attorney/activist/Executive Council candidate Andy Volinsky. Supporters of both Clinton and Sanders will also speak at the event, including top Clinton backers Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Gov. Maggie Hassan. The Sanders backers scheduled to speak are being kept under wraps. (The original July 7 New Hampshire Primary Source column follows.) ENERGY ISSUES POLL. A comprehensive poll conducted for several Republican-leaning energy-oriented groups shows presumptive presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are very much under water on how they are viewed by voters in New Hampshire and nationally. It also shows that voters of both parties believe energy policy should be a high priority of the federal government. Just Win Strategies and Target Point Consulting surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationally, in addition to 200 interviews in each of the “target states” of New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Among the groups sponsoring the poll was Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, a pro-GOP issues advocacy group that is strongly supporting Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s re-election bid. The full polling memo can be viewed by clicking here. Some key New Hampshire findings are: -- Hillary Clinton outpolls Donald Trump in the state, 44 percent to 40 percent. -- Clinton is viewed favorably by 39 percent and unfavorably by 58 percent of Granite State registered voters. Donald Trump is viewed favorably by 32 percent and unfavorably by 64 percent. -- 79 percent of Granite State voters believe energy policy should be a “very or somewhat high priority” in Washington. -- 79 percent of Granite State voters say they are more likely to vote for a candidate “who supports a clean energy plan that promotes the diversification and growth of clean energy sources, like wind, solar and hydropower.” “Despite the clear political divisions, the data clearly shows some areas of consensus for action on policy,” the polling memo concludes. “This data reveals that there is a political imperative on taking action in the energy policy space.” DCCC ADS LINK REPUBLICANS TO TRUMP. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking a proactive approach to linking Republicans running for election or re-election to the U.S. House to presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. New Hampshire is among the states in which two national television ads by the DCCC will be launched on Monday. The DCCC says the cable television and digital buys total seven figures. “Just as the conventions begin and general election voters truly start to engage, the (DCCC) is taking this unprecedented step – earlier than ever before -- to nationalize the congressional races, define the toxic Republican brand and drive home that House Republicans’ failure to stand up to Donald Trump is simply them putting their party before the country, which is unacceptable to voters and will cost them in November,” the DCCC said. Added U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., the DCCC chairman: “Whether House Republicans stand with Donald Trump or refuse to stand up to him, the point is the same: They are putting their party over our country and have betrayed the values and standards that Americans hold dear. House Republicans, like Frank Guinta, have allowed a man who freely attacks people and intentionally divides our nation to be their standard-bearer without lifting a finger to stop him.” “As general election voters tune in with distress about the Republican Party’s nominee, this ad campaign makes clear how unacceptable it is for these Republicans to fall in line with Donald Trump.” View the ads here and here, and/or below. 40408250 40408268 CLOSE-UP. This week on "CloseUP," WMUR political director Josh McElveen will interview Sen. Kelly Ayotte, as well as state Sen. Jeanie Forrester, who is a Republican candidate for governor, and Republican National Committeeman Steve Duprey. The program airs on Sunday at 10 a.m. NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY SOURCE. To view recent New Hampshire Primary Source columns, click here. (John DiStaso can be reached at jdistaso@hearst.com or distasoj@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jdistaso and on Facebook: Facebook.com/JohnDiStasoWMUR.)