MANCHESTER, NH -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the New Hampshire Business Leaders for McCain Coalition. The coalition will advise John McCain on issues impacting the Granite State's business community. New Hampshire businessman Jim Burke will chair the coalition on behalf of John McCain's candidacy.

"John McCain values and understands the entrepreneurial spirit of small business owners that is vital to New Hampshire's economic growth and prosperity," explained Jim Burke. "Unlike any other candidate, John McCain will fight to reform the burdensome government regulations and keep Washington off the back and out of the wallets of small businesses. John McCain has a proven record as a common sense, fiscal conservative and as president he will keep America on the path of economic prosperity."

John McCain thanked the coalition for its support, stating, "This coalition will be critical to providing advice on the challenges facing the New Hampshire businesses. I commend these leaders for their contributions to New Hampshire's economy and their communities, and I am proud to have their support."

NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESS LEADERS FOR MCCAIN LEADERSHIP*

Chair

Jim Burke -- Founder, Burke Advertising, Bedford

Co-Chairs

Frank Bettencourt -- President, Van Otis Chocolates, Manchester

Stephen Duprey -- Owner, Foxfire Property Management Inc, Concord

Kevin Johnston -- President, Sunrise Foods, Brentwood

Jayne Millerick -- President, Marcucci Consulting, Bow

Kurt Swenson -- Chairman of the Board, Swenson Granite, Concord; President and CEO, Rock of Ages Corporation

Vice-Chairs

Richard Badger -- Senior Partner, Badger Realty, North Conway

Wayne Barrows -- Owner and Branch Manager, First Metropolitan Mortgage, Portsmouth

Phil Bean -- Owner, Bean Insurance Agency, Hampton

Al Bloomquist -- Executive Vice President, Oxxford Information Technology, Contoocook

Jeremy Bradshaw -- Owner, Pro Edge Realty, Rochester

Sen. Peter Bragdon -- Publisher, The Milford Observer, Milford

Peter Burdett -- Senior Financial Adviser, Merrill Lynch, Manchester

Merle Burke -- Owner, Burke Painting, Bartlett

Harold Burns -- Owner, Burns Insurance, Whitefield

Packy Campbell -- Owner, RSA Realty, Rochester

Karen Cervantes -- Co-Owner, Harrison Insurance Agency, Lebanon

Vincent Colella -- Owner, VPC LLC (Real Estate Management Company), Portsmouth

Chris Cooper -- Account Planner, Burke Advertising, Bedford

Thomas Decoster -- Residential Property Manager & Financial Planner, Greenland

Dave Delorey -- Managing Director, Delorey Consulting Group, Nashua

Shari A Demers -- Owner, Yankee Building Movers, LLC, Chichester

Michael Donovan -- President, Donovan Consulting, Windham

Paul Eja -- Owner, Pauly's Pockets, Durham

Keith & Elizabeth Farrar -- Owners, Lobo Construction, Ossipee

Laurence Fuller -- Retired Business Executive, Grantham

Sen. John Gallus -- Principle Broker, Gallus & Green Realtors, Berlin

Chris Goodnow -- Owner, Goodnow Real Estate Service, Salem

Sandi & Fred Hoffmeister -- Owners, Maria Atwood Inn, Franklin

Dan Hughes -- President, DM Hughes Inc, Portsmouth

Rep. Karen Hutchinson -- President, Blue Eagle Realty, Londonderry

George D. Infanti -- Owner, Milford Paint & Wallpaper, Milford; Owner, George Management LLC, Amherst

Jim Jalbert -- Owner, C&J Trailways, Dover

Mike Johnston -- President, Garlic Guard/Super Natural Gardener, Exeter

Jack Kelley -- Founder, Kelley Seacoast Realty, Portsmouth

Steve Lewis -- Founder, SLI Consulting, Salem

John Lumbard -- Partner, Lumbard Investment Counseling LLC, Hollis

Ken MacGrath -- President, Core Compliance Testing Services LLC, Hudson

Allen MacNeil -- Owner, Bug-Munk Boxes, Plymouth

Chris Maeda -- Owner, Maeda Consulting LLC, Salem

Thomas Markey -- Owner, Markey's Lobster Pound, Seabrook

John Moffatt -- President, Analytic Systems Corp, Hopkinton

Thomas Moran -- Owner, Jump Start Manufacturing, Nashua

Mike Odea -- CEO, Surveillance Technology, North Andover, MA (Bedford resident)

Sean Owen -- President, wedu Advertising & Marketing Agency, Manchester; President, Pr inter's Square, Manchester

Alison & Keith Raymond -- Owners, Claremont Glassworks, Claremont

Butch Ricci -- President, Ricci Construction Company, Portsmouth

Douglas J Robbins -- Investment Manager, Concord

Rey Salinas -- Owner, Real Estate Boston, Boston, MA (Manchester resident)

Brad Schwoerer -- Owner, Computer Troubleshooters of Merrimack, Merrimack

Brian Silfies -- Owner, One 2 One Brian's Fitness LLC, Concord

Dee Silfies -- Partner, D. Silfies & Company LLC, Concord

Raymond Simoneau -- Owner, Leda Lanes, Nashua

Shawn Spooner -- President, Sunapee Coach LLC, Bradford

Peter Stanhope -- Principal, The Stanhope Group, Portsmouth &a mp; Goffstown

Timothy Sweeney -- Sales Executive, Telequip Corporation, Salem

Rod Vansciver -- Former Owner, TimberTech Company, Hooksett; Member, eCoast Angel Investment Group, Portsmouth

Jim Walker -- Co-Owner, Harrison Insurance Agency, Lebanon

Rep. Kevin Waterhouse -- Owner, Waterhouse's Country Store, Windham

Greg Whalen -- President, Seaboard-Whalen Real Estate Management Inc, Portsmouth

Paul Young -- Co-Founder, Calypso Communications, Portsmouth

Karl Zahn -- Owner, K.M. Zahn & Sons Transportation, Milford

*All titles listed for identification purposes only.