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2016 Hopefuls Descend on New Hampshire

New Hampshire voters are getting a great look at nearly every Republican who will be running for president in 2016.
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/ Source: NBC News

New Hampshire voters are getting a great look this weekend at nearly every Republican who will be running for president in 2016.

Twelve Republicans, some considering a presidential run and others who have already declared, are in the Granite State for the "First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit." Most are also holding other events throughout the state.

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was plagued by back pain during his 2012 run, told the summit he is healthy and prepared to make a second presidential bid. A successful campaign “takes years of intense study, and I spent the last three years in that mode.”

“The next president of the United States really needs to be someone who has deep experience as an executive,” the longest serving governor of the Lone Star State added.

At a “Politics and Eggs” breakfast in Manchester, a right of passage for potential presidential candidates, Jeb Bush said the retirement age should be raised and defended how he handled his fight to keep Terri Schiavo alive while governor of Florida.

“I don’t think I would have changed anything,” Bush said.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Bush will speak at the summit later Friday.

And here is Saturday’s schedule:

Paul (after 8:00 am ET)

Fiorina, Jindal, Graham, Huckabee, Cruz (after noon ET)

Walker (after 6:00 pm ET)

-- Andrew Rafferty