No one else finds it ironic that Sununu's entire Senate candidacy in 2002 revolved around "polls show Bob Smith consistently losing to RAT Shaheen, therefore he should step aside and let someone else give it a shot", yet Sununu was completely unwilling to take his OWN advice when he found himself in that situation in 2008? Are we still drinking the kool-aid that not ONE Republican in the entire state could have run a credible campaign against Shaheen in 2008, therefore that seat was destined to go RAT because we "had" to run Sununu?
I agree with Field, if Sununu is such a great candidate, let him try to get his old house seat back. Until then, the NH GOP desperately needs to get some new blood and stop being so inbred. The fact Sununu's daddy is now Chairman of the NH Republican Party is the final nail in the coffin, IMO. After the entire state went RAT on his watch, they now put him in charge of "revitalizing" the party. His first action? When Obama decided to tap Gregg for commerce Secretary and ensure Gregg would be replaced with a defacto RAT that happened to have "Republican" next her name (thus giving the Dems 60 votes in the Senate and closure), any other competent party chairman would have immediately moved to woo Gregg into refusing the slot through every means possible. Sununu's responce? Call Gregg and offer him a heartily graduations, and heap praise on the liberal closet Democrat named to replace him. It was only through Gregg's own realization later on that we were spared a veto-proof RAT majority. Sununu was more than happy to allow it to happen. (Just as he urged George H. Bush to appoint liberal David Souter and thus ensure the court's current pro-abortion majority)
The bottom line is that Sununu won't beat Hodes (the fact he's polling so far behind a RAT that nobody heard of prior to 2006 speaks volumes) is because he's tied to Bush, who is radioactive in New Hampshire. They're not going to vote for any Republican seen as a Bush lap-dog for 8 years. A local conservative with no ties to "Bush establishment" could win this seat, but nominating someone the voters rejected is just giving Hodes a free ride to the Senate.
I predicted Sununu would lose in 2008 if the GOP nominated him, and it fell on deaf ears. I hope I don't have to say "I told you so" again in Jan. 2011 with New Hampshire having an entire RAT majority.
New Hampshire Republicans have got to consider other options behinds consider to run pampered politicians kids for every office. The voters have rejected them.
Sununu isn’t my first choice, but he’s still credible. And as for 2002, it’s not like we would have done well with the flaky Bob Smith.
I backed Sununu over Smith. Partly because Smith was a likely loser and also because Smith was to his left on environmental issues.
I would rather have Merrill or another candidate. Hopefully Guinta will oust Shea-Porker, (oops Porter I mean).
If it’s Sununu I won’t have trouble backing him. But we need fresh blood in the state (Bass Gregg Sununu dynasties) which is why he’s not my preferred candidate. I don’t feel he’s entitled to the first crack at the seat after losing by 7 points to an empty pantsuit. He did only a little better than McCain. Not a lot of ticket spitting.
Speaking of Bob Smith, he moved back to NH from FL. He is seriously thinking of challenging Sununu in the primary and general.