The date of the New Hampshire primary is not the only local issue in the 
campaign to draw the attention of candidates.  The Portsmouth Naval 
Shipyard was put back on the base closing list for review last week.     
The shipyard is a major source of employment for New Hampshire and Maine.  
Naturally the citizens and elected officials of the area are concerned 
with the possibilty that it might be closed.  Not surprisingly, 
the shipyard has become an issue that has drawn the attention of the 
candidates, and probable cadidates, as well.

Two probable candidates, Gov. Pete Wilson of California and President 
Clinton, have recently and will comment later today on the shipyard.

Gov. Wilson's comments on the shipyard came in letter he wrote to Gov 
Merrill.  The letter is dated May 15.  The Portsmouth Herald (May 18) 
reports in a frontpage article, "Calif.'s Wilson backs yard," by Lars 
Trodson, that in the letter Wilson is "pledging an effort to save the 
shipyards both here and in California."  Quoting from the letter Wilson 
writes, "The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is vital to our national 
interests."  The article also notes that "Wilson's statement was in 
direct contrast to the argument put forth by supporters of Long Beach 
Naval Shipyard [in CA] which is also targeted for closure this year.  
Long Beach supporters are saying that Portsmouth is directly responsible 
for excess capacity---which means there are more facilities than needed 
to support naval personnel and the fleet---and should be closed instead 
of Long Beach."
                     ***************************

The Portsmouth Shipyard has also attracted the attention of President 
Clinton.  The Portsmouth Herald reports this morning, May 19th, that the 
President will give a radio interview to WERZ FM which will be simulcast 
on three other stations, MIX, WMYF and WZNN.  The President is expected, 
according to The Herald, to address issues concerning the shipyard in 
Portsmouth.  The President will also be providing an interview with WEVO, 
NH public radio, to be aired this evening as well.

While President Clinton has expressed his support for the shipyard in the 
past.  We here at NH-Primary, are not sure what Gov. WIlson had said in 
the past regarding the Portsmouth Shipyard.
_________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
**************************************************************
One local and one regional newspaper were among the media that
covered the Gramm visit and speech in Nashua on May 15.  

A Boston Globe article, "Gramm vows to back early N.H. vote,"
appears on p.3, written by Michael Rezendes and John Milne.  The
article is accompanied by a picture of Sen. Gramm standing and
talking to a table of audience members at the luncheon, and a
picture of Gove Merrill within the text.  The article and photos
appear above the fold and take up two thirds of the page.  The
substance of the article deals with Gramm's "rift" with Merrill
over the timing of the Delaware primary.

The Nashua Telegraph covered Gramm's speech in a p.6, May 16th
article, "Gramm calls spending cap the answer," by Christopher
Williams.  The single column, article begins, "Republican
presidential candidate Phil Gramm said Monday that he plans to
propose a 2.8 percent annual cap on federal spending in an effort
to deliver both tax cuts and a balanced federal budget.  

The Telegraph article quotes from the speech and the question and
answer session on Gramm's position on taxes, his role in the Reagan
revolution, his position on crime and welfare reform.  The article
also notes, "Splitting conservative tacks with presidential
aspirant Pat Buchanan, who seeks to usurp Gramm's position as right
wing front-runner, Gramm said he opposes protectionism."  Quoting
Sen. Gramm from the question and answer session following his
speech, "We can't build a wall around America and go hide under a
rock.  Our problems are not caused by foreigners who can't vote in
our elections.  Our problems are homemade.  Built right here in the
good old U.S. of A.  And that's where we need to begin to find the
solution."