Former New Jersey governor and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Christie Todd Whitman will be attending a campaign event tonight for state Senate candidate Dan Hughes of New Castle.

Whitman is making a stop at the $50-per-plate fund-raiser during her Granite State weekend tour to promote her book and political action committee, both named "It's My Party, Too."

The book, which was published last year, urges Republicans to focus less on divisive social issues, such as gay marriage and abortion, and more on traditional conservative ideas, such as fiscal responsibility and limiting government interference in daily lives. The It's My Party, Too PAC promotes Republicans in state races and names New Hampshire political figures like Reps. Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley, N.H. Senate President Ted Gatsas and former Congressman Bill H. Zeliff Jr. as members of the advisory board.

Her daughter and executive director of the political action committee, Kate Whitman, denied the trip to New Hampshire was to test the political waters for a presidential bid, but she said future visits were not out of the question.

"Never say never," she said.

Hughes said he was pleased a nationally known Republican would appear at one of his fund-raisers, particularly one with which he shares many of the same ideas on issues.

"I'm a Reagan Republican," he said. "It was Reagan who said the Republican Party has a big tent."

Hughes said he agrees political leaders should be more tolerant of different ideas and should be more open to thorough debate.

"What (Whitman's PAC) is looking for is acceptance of all ideas at the debate," Hughes said. "You don't have to be with them 100 percent of time."