January 3, but no one knew that yet, and believed Romney had won by 8 votes. Televised debates in New Hampshire were held on January 7, 2012, on ABC News at Saint Anselm College and the following morning on January 8, 2012, on NBC's Meet the Press and MSNBC. All major Republican candidates attended both debates. Ballot access In 2012, a record 33 Republican candidates filed to appear on the ballot in New Hampshire, including various single-issue activists, protest candidates, and perennial candidates. For instance, Stewart Greenleaf, who had no interest in becoming President, registered for the ballot to promote the issue of government spending in the Republican Party. Under New Hampshire's lenient ballot access laws, a candidate is only required to pay $1,000 to the state's treasury, and needs no party approval or petitions for placement. Endorsements Various newspapers that circulate widely in New Hampshire made endorsements ahead of the New Hampshire primary. While the conservative Union Leader, the only statewide newspaper, endorsed Gingrich, various newspapers endorsed Huntsman, with the Valley News stating that Huntsman was "a candidate whose views are solidly conservative, but not myopically so" and criticizing Romney and Gingrich, stating that "The former has raised the flip-flop to an art form, while the latter has done the same for hypocrisy" and endorsing Huntsman "in the hopes that the cooler heads will prevail in New Hampshire and elsewhere." Romney also received support, including from the Portsmouth Herald of the Seacoast Region. The New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed Gingrich on November 27. Foster's Daily Democrat endorsed Romney on December 4. The Portsmouth Herald and Seacoast Media Group endorsed Romney on December 18. The Keene Sentinel endorsed Huntsman on December 18. The Valley News endorsed Huntsman on December 18. The Conway Daily Sun endorsed Romney on December 21. The Concord Monitor endorsed Huntsman on December 22. The Boston Herald endorsed Romney. The Salmon Press Newspapers group (the Littleton Courier, Berlin Reporter, and Coos County Democrat) endorsed Paul on January 4. The Nashua Telegraph endorsed Romney on January 5. The Boston Globe endorsed Huntsman on January 6. The Eagle-Tribune endorsed Romney on January 6. Romney led the field in endorsements from New Hampshire Republican elected officials. The New York Times reported that after losing New Hampshire in the 2008 primary to John McCain, Romney devoted considerable time and money to gain the support of New Hampshire Republican figures. Romney's political