Today is the great nailbiter for people on both sides of the aisle. By tomorrow we'll know who will be our next president... Or will we? Anyone who still remembers falling asleep in front of the TV in 2000 is wary of any pat resolution.

Of course, for the tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, there's nothing else to do but wait: The traditional first place in the nation to vote went for Barack Obama in the first rush of ballots. Polls opened at 6 am in most East Coast states

Want to celebrate or cry with your candidate of choice tonight? Obama supporters are amassing in Chicago's Grant Park tonight to count returns. It's ticketed to the tune of about 78,000, but the Sun-Times estimates 250,000 could rush the waterfront, so if you don't like crowds, stay home.

For John McCain, head to the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, in the shade of the gorgeous Camelback Mountains. There seems to be a little confusion over whether McCain will be outside on the lawn or in the grand ballroom, so make sure to arrive plenty early. The Biltmore has hosted every president since Herbert Hoover, and the hotel told the Arizona Republic they've got plenty of bubbly in reserve.

Related Stories:
· What to Expect for Obama's Grant Park Bash [Chicago Sun-Times]
· Obama Wins in Earliest Vote in Tiny Dixville, NH [AP, via Google]
· McCain to Shake Up Election Night Party at the Biltmore [HC]
· Resort Hosts McCain Camp, Prepares for Global Publicity [Arizona Republic]
· Scary, Scary Close [Jaunted]

[Photo: afka_bob]]]> egw 2008-11-04T09:10:55-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/18/153752/79

Even though they're a little early, the residents of New Hampshire are ready to celebrate Halloween this weekend at the Keene Pumpkin Festival.

Things start at 10 am on Saturday with a craft fair and all kinds of food, but the real fun starts at noon with the pumpkin seed spitting contest. More entertainment kicks off in the afternoon with musicians spread out across three stages. If you're up for more eating, or were impressed by Joey Chestnut's recent feat, then get a good spot for the pumpkin pie eating contest.

The day's events culminate when the official count of lighted jack-o-lanterns takes place. That's right, the whole festival is centered on trying to break the world record for the most candle-filled pumpkins in one place: Last year the festival got close with 25,644, but nearby Boston still holds the record with more than 30,000!

Related Stories:
· The Keene Pumpkin Festival [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jmwests]]]> kjb 2008-10-23T12:30:49-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/2/12/11733/4214

For all the haters out there, Skybus has also inspired some true believers. And whether the airline is profitable or not, officials at Portsmouth International are dumping $5 million into airport improvements, hoping to lure Skybus into making it a focus city.

The carrier now runs six flights a day out of PSM, up from two last summer. With the increase in passenger traffic, security lanes, the baggage claim and even the bathrooms have been overwhelmed. Putting in new facilities would ease that stress and set the airport up for future expansion. (All improvements aside, it'll still be 63 miles from Boston.)

Still, some board members are worried about making improvements that will essentially benefit one airline. But one airport bigwig who should know says it's a good carrier to invest in:

There's been an extremely high level of conversation within Skybus about international flights.

$10 flights to the Bahamas, anyone?

Related Stories:
· Pease Plans $5 Million Terminal Expansion [Seacoast Online]
· Skybus Going International [Jaunted]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: msmail]]]> pbb 2008-02-12T11:09:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/8/141031/3549

Check out our Candidates Travel Map to chase down those last undecided primary votes.

Today's the first primary in the nation in warmer-than-usual New Hampshire. The seventeen voters who showed up to the polls in Dixville Notch, the city which began voting after midnight, picked Barack Obama and John McCain. McCain is the big surprise of that pairing after a less than stellar showing in Iowa.

Much has been made of the fact that Hillary Clinton received none of those 17 votes, but maybe a town of 74 isn't a super sample.

Since 1952, the winner of the New Hampshire primary for his party has gone on to be president 85 percent of the time. (McCain is one of those exceptions, having taken the state in the 2000 primary.) Mitt Romney may have had that stat in mind when he stood outside a Manchester polling place trying to catch some of the 45 percent of registered independents, who are free to vote in either primary.

Current polls indicate that Romney's running second, ahead of Iowa champion Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani. Next week, it's off to Michigan, where the candidates of both parties will genuflect to Big Auto on Michael Moore territory. You can bet we'll be following them west.

Related Stories:
· Obama, McCain get early win in Dixville Notch [Reuters]
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Candidates Travel Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: yorkd]]]> egw 2008-01-08T16:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/29/92220/821

A Jaunted reader points out that Skybus isn't the only airline with Boston lust. Turns out Manchester New Hampshire airport, MHT, which is a good 54 miles from Boston, now calls itself "Manchester Boston Regional Airport." Please.

We know with the Red Sox winning the World Series, the Patriots working on an undefeated season and the Celtics ready to return to glory, everybody wants to claim they live in Boston these days, but New Hampshire is not Boston. MHT might as well call itself "Manchester, NH--Manchester England Regional Airport".

That said, Manchester does offer a new high frequency bus service operates every two hours, 24-hours a day, seven days a week between MHT, the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn, MA and the Sullivan Square MBTA Subway Station. This service is free to all passengers. Very cool. So tell us this MHT: Why not just call yourself what you are, a small airport about an hour from Boston with excellent transportation options to and from the city, instead of going all Skybus on us and trying to convince noobs that Manchester is a suburb of Boston?

Related Stories:
· Skybus So Wants Portsmouth to be Boston [Jaunted]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]]]> markj 2007-10-29T09:26:28-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/10/23/84342/862

Plenty of people want to be in Boston these days -- BoSox World Series, undefeated Patriots, and the Celtics imminent return to prominence. However, Skybus has been taking it one step further, repeatedly claiming a town that is a bridge away from being in Maine is actually the Hub.

Portsmouth is not Boston. As a matter of fact it is over 60 miles away. Yet Skybus is constantly advertising Portsmouth as Boston. Their newest newsletter went one step further and highlights their new daily non stops from "Portsmouth MA" to Columbus and Florida.

We are big fans of trying to snag $10 airfare, we just like the sport of it, but could Skybus please knock off the saying they fly out of Boston, or Massachusetts for that matter. For the record Portsmouth is in New Hampshire and both Providence, Rhode Island (PVD) and Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT) are closer to Boston than Portsmouth, but don't market themselves as Boston.

Related Stories:
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted] ]]> markj 2007-10-23T08:43:42-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/8/6/165453/5224

French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his temper with two American news photographers covering his Lake Winnipesaukee vacation yesterday, jumping onto their boat and scolding them loudly in French.

The confrontation came as Sarkozy and companions were headed for open water in a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee when he spotted Associated Press photographer Jim Cole aboard Cole's boat, which was outside a buoy barrier monitored by the New Hampshire Marine Patrol.

Before Sarkozy spotted him, Cole had driven his boat up to the patrol boat, identified himself and received permission to be there.

Hours earlier, Sarkozy had spoken to reporters and said in French, "I am naturally ready to answer all your questions, and maybe afterward you will resume covering the news and other topics, and leave me tranquilly with my family."

After Cole and DeWitt promised to stop shooting photos for the day, Sarkozy calmed down, reboarded his boat and continued out onto the lake with his party, followed by a boat carrying U.S. Secret Service agents.

Now we have been known to spend some time on Lake Winnie, and we can tell you first hand it is hard to lose your temper in such a tranquil environment. However, following the red buoy black buoy boating rules can take some concentration, so maybe, just maybe, the French president was upset at the photogs disregard for New Hampshire buoy law? Just a guess.

Related Stories:
·   Lake Winnipesaukee Hotels [HotelChatter]
·   Lake Winnipesaukee WiFi [Jaunted]
·   Sarkozy In Rage [unionleader]]]> markj 2007-08-06T16:54:53-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/