Yes Bob Smith did some screwy things in 2002, ended up trailing Shaheen in the polls, and that's why Sununu beat him in the primary. Too bad Sununu's ego showed he wasn't willing to do what he demanded Smith do is 2002 -- allow another Republican to run because the incumbent is damnaged goods. Not only did Sununu insist on running a kamakazi campaign in 2008, but now his fans want to run him again. This is now two campaigns is a row where Sununu is losing to a RAT and his fan club insists he should be the nominee anyway. (and if he refuses their next choice will be Charlie Bass)
If Bob Smith "should have stepped aside" when he was trailing to Shaheen, why not Sununu? What makes him so special? Smith was losing to consistantly losing to Shaheen by double-digit margins for monthes, so the party ran someone else. Sununu was losing to consistantly losing to Shaheen by double-digit margins for monthes, and the party continues to insist on running him.
Don't you find it ironic that Sununu refused to step aside for the very reason he ran six years earlier?
Billy, there was no reason for Sununu to step aside in ‘08. I never saw polling that indicated he trailed by double-digits. He was usually behind by a modest margin (I think an average of 6%, IIRC), but not a gap that couldn’t be closed (and at one point, I saw polling data that he had closed that gap). There weren’t necessarily any clear-cut candidates that could step in to replace him. We had no House members, there was no mention of any former Governors. More than likely, a second-tier candidate would’ve come forward, and we still would’ve lost. I don’t back him now because I know the actual results of the last election and we have enough time to bring in a Steve Merrill or Frank Guinta to take a shot. I would, however, like to see polling data on head-to-head matchups between them and Hodes.