Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg says reaching out to independent voters and disaffected Republicans �is very important to us.�

The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor who has soared to top-tier status in the race for the Democratic nomination, told the Seacoast Media Group editorial board Friday that �one of things that we take to be a great success is the number of Republicans and right-leaning independents who are coming to our events saying that they�re looking for a different place to go and that they�re drawn to the campaign.�

The 37-year-old candidate said aims to broaden the Democratic Party. �I belong to the party I do for a reason, but at a moment like this, I think we can expand that coalition and that base in a way that calls more people in and makes them feel welcome when they�re ready to walk across that line," he said.

He said he could find common ground with some Republicans on curbing climate change and battling gun violence. And on fiscal issues, he touted, �I am more attentive to fiscal responsibility than is fashionable in my party.�

Reaching out to independent�� or unaffiliated � voters is crucial in New Hampshire because they make up roughly 40 percent of the electorate and are eligible to vote in either the Democratic or Republican presidential primaries. With Republican President Donald Trump facing limited opposition in the GOP primary, most independent voters are expected to cast ballots in the Democratic primary, and their votes could be decisive in a close contest between Buttigieg and the other top-tier contenders � former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

On the ground in the first-in-the-nation primary state, Buttigieg campaign organizers are reaching out to undeclared voters as well as Democrats likely to vote in the primary.

Independents for Biden

Biden�s campaign is also making a hard sell for independent voters � and on Monday announced "Biden for New Hampshire" � which includes 100 independents from across the state who are backing the former vice president�s bid for the White House.

Heading up the list is former GOP U.S. Sen. Gordon Humphrey, who�s a very vocal critic of Republican President Donald Trump.

"For the sake of our national security, it�s urgent we replace President Trump in November,� Humphrey said. �President Trump has jeopardized our international alliances, and what we need now more than ever is strong, steady leadership, not government by tantrums and tweets. I am confident that Joe Biden will restore calm and rationality to the White House and rebuild America's standing in the world. I served with Joe Biden for 12 years in the United States Senate. I know him and trust him. No one comes close to his experience or his ability to achieve bipartisan consensus.�

Up with ads in New Hampshire

Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick declared his candidacy in mid-November, long after all but one of his rivals for the Democratic nomination and pretty late in the game. So the first TV commercial of his campaign is appropriately titled �Not Too Late.� The approximately $170,000 ad buy is in all four of the early voting states � but the bulk of the spending � roughly $100,000 � is in New Hampshire.

Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado � another longer-shot for the nomination who like Patrick is focusing most of his time in New Hampshire � also went up with the first ad of is presidential campaign. The digital spot � the first in a series of ads � highlights Bennet�s family story as the son of a Holocaust survivor on his mom�s side and a descendant of the Mayflower on his dad�s side.

Finally - new NH primary poll numbers

The dry spell is over.

After nearly a month, there�s a new poll in New Hampshire�s Feb. 11 presidential primary.

The CBS News/YouGov survey � released Sunday � indicates Sanders has 27% support among likely Democratic primary voters with the Granite State, with Biden at 25%. Sanders� two-point edge with well within the poll�s margin of error. Warren stands at 18%, with Buttigieg at 13%. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota�s at 7%, with everyone else at 3% or less.

Booker�s Durham endorsement

Former state Sen. Katie Wheeler Monday endorsed Sen. Cory Booker�s bid for president. The Durham Democrat served in the chamber from 1996-2002, after spending a decade in the state House of Representatives.

�Cory Booker is the only candidate who speaks about raising the moral imagination of the nation, just as we did during the civil rights movement, and bringing people together -- not driving out darkness with darkness. And he walks the walk every day,� Wheeler told Seacoastonline. �Cory leads with grace and dignity; he doesn�t pick fights with other Democrats; and he has a deep passion for our fellow Americans. He will excite and energize the best of who we are and the voters we need to win in 2020.�

Since launching his presidential campaign 11 months ago � the New Jersey Democrat has won the endorsement of more than 100 New Hampshire elected officials, former elected officials, community leaders and activists.

Coming up

Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang returns to the Seacoast on Thursday. The tech entrepreneur who has surged from the longest of long-shots to middle tier status headlines a climate town hall Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Durham Unitarian Universalist Church. Yang then makes the short drive to Portsmouth, to hold a 7:30 p.m. town hall at the city�s historic South Church.

Warren returns to Dover Friday, to hold a town hall at noon at Rivermill at Dover Landing at 2 Washington St. Last Thursday, before campaigning in Concord and Hanover, the senator unveiled a wide-ranging plan to advance the rights of people with disabilities.

Patrick returns to the Seacoast region Friday. He�ll headline an open democracy forum at 3:30 p.m. at Dover�s library. Later, he�ll hold a meet and greet at 7 p.m. with the Newmarket Democrats at their offices at 44 Exeter Road (Route 108).