Lamontagne: Obama's Support of Same-Sex Marriage 'Pure Politics'

GOP gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne on Thursday called "pure politics."

Lamontagne was in Portsmouth for the Veterans Count Club breakfast at the Sheraton Harborside.

"I think in his case, it's pure politics," Lamontagne said, noting that the president "hasn't said what his 'moment of awakening' was."

Lamontagne, who said he supports "traditional marriage," said he thinks voters will see through what he feels was a political stunt on Obama's part.

Kevin Smith, the other Republican gubernatorial candidate, was also at Thursday's breakfast, and had simiilar thoughts on Obama's announcement.

"To me, this is a distraction by the President and Democrats," he said, "to drive it away from the real issue – jobs and the economy."

On the campaign trail, which took him to Hampton on Wednesday night, Smith said no one is asking him about the issue of gay marriage. What they care about is the economy, he said.

"I hope it doesn't become a campaign of social issues," said Smith, who also supports traditional marriage but says it is not part of his campaign platform.

Smith and Lamontagne were two of about 200 people who attended Thursday's breakfast. Others on hand were Executive Councilor Chris Sununu and representatives for U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Frank Guinta.

Launched in 2007, the Veterans Count Club is a group that helps fund services for returning veterans to help them reintegrate back into the community.

Those in attendance on Thursday heard numerous inspirational stories from veterans like Staff Sgt. Kent Johnson who have been helped by the program. If it weren't for Veterans Count and the assistance they provided him, Johnson said, "I wouldn't have my home."