Who's in, who's out in upcoming televised NH debates

The upcoming televised debates sponsored by WMUR-TV and the Union Leader newspapers are a good gauge of who the media believes are the major contenders in the Granite State races for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate and governor.

Because not every candidate who will appear on the ballot has been invited to participate.

For better or for worse, media makes a judgment call on the major candidates and the minor candidates.

Major candidates get the attention.

Minor candidates have to work hard to get any attention.

Here's a look at who's in and who's out in the upcoming debates:

1st Congressional District, Republicans, on Sept. 7
In: Rich Ashooh, Bob Bestani, Frank Guinta and Sean Mahoney;
Out: Andrew Kohlhofer, Richard Parent, Kevin Rondeau and Peter Bearse.

2nd Congressional District, Republicans, on Sept. 8
In: Charles Bass, Robert Giuda and Jennifer Horn;
Out: Wesley Sonner and Joseph Reilly.

2nd Congressional District, Democrats, on Sept. 8
In: Katrina Swett and Ann McLane Kuster:
Out: There are none.

U.S. Senate, Republicans, on Sept. 9
In: Kelly Ayotte, Jim Bender, Bill Binnie, Ovide Lamontagne, and Dennis Lamare;
Out: Tom Alciere and Gerard Beloin.

Governor, Republicans, on Sept. 10
In: Jack Kimball, John Stephen and Karen Testerman;
Out: Frank Emiro.

Last week at a forum in Derry, we saw the exclusion of candidates among Republicans in the 1st District primary.

Ashooh, Bestani, Guinta and Mahoney were invited and participated in the forum. The others were not.

But Bearse and Parent showed up anyway. "There are two of us here, two of the most active candidates," Bearse said referring to him and Parent, according to an Associated Press report of the forum. "Wouldn't you like to hear from us? ... This is not a private event."

The question must have been rhetorical. They weren't allowed to speak.