LIVE BLOG: Rick Perry in Hampton

9:01 a.m.: Event just wrapped up, with Horn giving closing remarks. Perry's next stop today is in Atkinson. He'll attend the Chili Fest in Manchester after that, and then a house party at the Manchester home of Republican gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne.

8:56 a.m.: Final question, about why "any governor" would give "preferential treatment to the child of somebody who does not belong here, rather than these guys here." In other words, state tuition for illegal immigrants. Perry says no one is stronger on illegal immigration than he is. Says the real issue is federal government "has failed in its constitutional duty to defend our border." But in 2001, he had a choice. "Are we going to have them on the government dole over here, because they're not educated, or are we going to have them in our institutions of higher learning, paying in-state tuition, pursuing citizenship..." He said Texans overwhelmingly decided it was in their best interest to have illegal immigrants get educated. "If you don't want to do that in your state, I absolutely respect that right," he says. But he says he is and always has been against amnesty.

8:55 a.m.: Well over 100 people here for today's Perry event. Much more crowded than Rudy Giuliani event over the summer.

8:53 a.m.: Question on whether Perry believes in subsidies. Perry says he believes states can use its resources as incentives, but federal government shouldn't be doing that.

8:51 a.m.: Perry gets the global warming question. "Where are you getting your science" that fossil fuels don't contribute to global warming, an audience member asks. Perry says our temperatures have gone up and down for millenium. Not worth putting our economy at risk based on "science that is still not settled." Says there are "still enough skeptics in my book" to stand with them in saying that "I don't believe man made global warming is settled in science enough..."

8:49 a.m.: "We've got to get back to drilling," Perry says. Energy industry is a big part of getting America back working.

8:47 a.m.: Perry says overregulation is part of what's causing the problem. "The EPA is one of the culprits," he says, drawing loud applause. 

8:46 a.m.: Second audience question mentions how the many mills that dot the NH landscape used to actually make things. But many of those manufacturing jobs have now left the country. Asks if Perry can bring those jobs "back here."

8:45 a.m.: Perry answers by talking about how he combined several health and human services agencies as governor of Texas, saving a great deal of money. "You ask yourself why do we have a federal education agency? Why do we have a Department of Education?" Education is important, he says, but should be handled by the states. Department of Energy is another agency he thinks is unnecessary.

8:44 a.m.: First audience question about the large number of government agencies that exist, and if there will be fewer if Perry is elected president.

8:43 a.m.: Audience questions beginning. Horn asks Perry to keep answers a bit shorter. "You sound like my wife," Perry said.

8:39 a.m.: "Here's what President Obama should have said in his jobs speech," Perry says. "I'm listening to the people of America. They have clearly said they do not want this healthcare bill going forward. I'm going to convene Congress and we're going to repeal it." Also should've said going he was going to pull back every regulation and test it for whether it kills or creates jobs. And should have said going to lower tax burden. If Obama had said that, Perry says, the confidence among citizens and in stock market, would have gone up.

8:37 a.m.: Perry says he signed 65 bills as governor that reduced taxes. Said $14-plus billion dollars saved in total. That sent a message to small business owner he wants them to be free of over taxation and regulation.

8:36 a.m.: Second question from Horn, about actions Perry took in Texas to allow small businesses to grow, and how he would apply that as president.

8:33 a.m.: Perry just slipped up, said NH doesn't have a property tax, drawing laughter from the crowd. He quickly corrected himself, saying he meant personal income tax.

8:31 a.m.: Now speaking about education, and the Race to the Top funds, as an example of how government is interfering with states' abilities to administer education. Says money can be better spent at the state level than in D.C. Says Washington is using our money "to hold us hostage," to make sure we do things their way. "I don't want that," he says.

8:28 a.m.: First question, from Horn, asks Perry about his guiding principle as he looks to cut spending. Perry says guiding principle, for him, is the 10th Amendment.

8:27 a.m.: Perry finished with his remarks. Only spoke for about 10 minutes. Questions now getting started.

8:26 a.m.: "Absolutely, our best days are ahead of us. America needs to get its confidence back." Best way to do that is to share with small business owners that they won't have burden of Washington, D.C. telling them how to run their business.

8:25 a.m.: If elected president, Perry promises to get rid of "ObamaCare," and also to "work for you to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential in your life as I can make it."

8:24 a.m.: One of the keys to recovering, Perry says, is to show some fiscal restraint. "It's time to get America working again."

8:23 a.m.: Perry: "It's time for the American economy to be free again, form this burden of big government."

8:21 a.m.: "Our country's in trouble," Perry says. We're not in an economic recovery, but an "economic tragedy." But he says there's nothing ailing America "that freedom cannot cure." He calls freedom our greatest economic advantage.

8:19 a.m.: Talking about last night's town hall in Derry. "It was a hot crowd," he said, "in more ways than one." Lot of good questions.

8:18 a.m.: Perry not talking about "ObamaCare," saying on his first day, "I will take out, probably a Sharpie... and put my name to an executive order to wipe out as much of ObamaCare as I can."

8:17 a.m.: Perry now speaking. Says this is 6th or 7th appearance here in NH, in six weeks in the race.

8:16 a.m.: The We The People forums will all focus on the economy. Horn now introducing Perry.

8:11 a.m.: Now speaking is Dr. Betsy McCaughey, former lieutenant governor of New York and founder of Defend Your Healthcare, a co-sponsor of today's town hall. She's speaking out against "ObamaCare."

8:07 a.m.: Jennifer Horn, founder of event host We The People, now welcoming everyone to their "first, first-in-the-nation town hall."

8:06 a.m.: Perry just entered the room. Packed house here to see the Texas governor.

7:55 a.m.: Good morning! We'll be live blogging Texas governor Rick Perry's We The People town hall meeting at One Liberty Lane in Hampton this morning. The event is scheduled to get started at 8 a.m.