Clinton action committee to drum up support in NH

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A political action committee supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton is sending staff members to visit New Hampshire next week to begin organizing support in case the former first lady and secretary of state decides to run for president in 2016.

Ready For Hillary is hosting events with state Democrats on Tuesday and Wednesday. New Hampshire holds the nation's first presidential primary and is a key state for every candidate since an early win can help build momentum.

Clinton won the primary in 2008, edging out then-Sen. Barack Obama. The state was also friendly to her husband: Bill Clinton earned the moniker "The Comeback Kid" after scoring a surprisingly strong second-place finish here in 1992.

Three Ready for Hillary staffers will meet with New Hampshire legislators for a private lunch Tuesday in Concord, then attend house parties in Nashua, Keene and Durham. On Wednesday, they'll attend a house party in Manchester. State lawmakers and executive councilors are among the featured guests at the house parties, a hallmark of the state's hands-on politicking.

As a super PAC, Ready for Hillary can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money but cannot formally coordinate with the Clinton family or its representatives.

Ready For Hillary has done similar outreach in another bellwether state, visiting Iowa in January. Iowa has the first caucuses of the campaign season. Clinton finished third in Iowa in 2008.