Posted on 11/12/2008 2:22:16 AM PST by cmj328
MANCHESTER – Though still smarting over his re-election defeat, some supporters of U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu are encouraging him to run for chairman of the Republican National Committee.
They continue to tout him as a star of the party and its future.
One Web site, DraftSununu.com, describes the national chairmanship as a chance for the GOP to return to its roots. It says, "We can select a leader who embraces the status quo or we can select a reformer, a new chairman who is a young, energetic and articulate."
Jim Merrill, an attorney experienced in helping Republican candidates in New Hampshire, is leading a similar effort on Facebook. Merrill, who sits on the 2008 RNC platform committee, said he has nothing to do with the "Draft Sununu" Web site and does not know who is behind that effort.
He said he has heard nothing but positive response in the past 72 hours.
"Senator Sununu would be a great leader for the party," he said.
Merrill said Sununu, the youngest member of the Senate, could command the respect of party elders while inspiring the next generation of Republicans.
A call to Sununu's campaign office for comment was not immediately returned yesterday.
Sununu, 44, a son of former Gov. John H. Sununu, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. The engineer and businessman represented the 1st District for three terms before he won his term in the U.S. Senate. He lost re-election, in a rematch with former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, by 44,552 votes. After losing last week, a few supporters expressed interest in seeing Sununu run for governor in 2010.
Let the record show the election of the party's national leader in January is a highly competitive process. For proof, New Hampshire need look no further than Merrill's cousin, former Gov. Steve Merrill.
After deciding not to seek a third term in 1996, Merrill ran for RNC chairman, ultimately losing to Jim Nicholson, a long-time committeeman from Colorado. The choice of Nicholson, it was said at the time, showed the RNC's reluctance to look to someone from outside.
In all the politicking before that RNC vote on Jan. 17, 1997, media critics even questioned whether Merrill would fight or fidget for New Hampshire's role in holding the nation's first presidential primary. Merrill said he would keep up the fight. After losing, the former state attorney general returned to New Hampshire to practice law.
The "Draft Sununu" effort, according to the Web site, was started without the senator's knowledge or approval.
Such grassroots efforts are familiar these days. Republican supporters essentially recruited Sununu six years ago to take on incumbent Sen. Bob Smith. His challenger this year was encouraged to give it another shot through a "Draft Shaheen" web site led by former state Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan.
The Republican Party is going to rise to the challenge by stacking bad idea upon bad.
You know, I thought the whole, ‘Draft Fred’ was a bad idea at the time as well. This job is perfect for him and he for the job, so why isn’t he being drafted now?
He couldn’t beat ‘Queen Jeanne, the Taxing Machine’ in the People’s Republic of New Hampshire. Next.
Yes, but is he a RINO?
Are we already dealing with the usual bunch of kingmakers?
If this future kingmaker is such an outstanding person, why does a group have to speak for him?
I’m just asking. As you can see, I don’t trust these guys. They all smell of the usual Washington, business as usual, clique only with a new coat of paint.
Run, Newt, run!
Exactly. 'Serving the people' is a family business for these people...we need fresh blood. Fresh CONSERVATIVE blood.
Listen, if the G.O.P. just recycles the same old tired has beens and never were or ever going to be, then it is time for a new REAL conservative party.
Enough tired old white guys like Dole and McLame.
Sununu just lost his senate race. He is a loser, we need new real conservative blood. If not, I’m out of here.
Isn’t this the position that they mentioned Michael Steele might seek?
Now there you go! What great way to make certain that the Age of “Uh”bama goes unchallenged, than to thoroughly squash all political opposition, by a RNC Chairman Sununu pushing for David Souter type candidates for office. Brilliant!
Now, John, while you are on your losing streak, put the “You Have Been Elected Chairman of the Board; Pay Each Player $50” card back into the “Chance” deck; you don’t get to keep it...
Bye, bye dinosaur.
I know his father promoted Souter. Perhaps you are confusing them?
NO!
I live in Massachusetts, and got the opportunity to see just a few of the political ads...shameful. I just couldn’t believe it.
The ads by Shaheen nearly made me have a stroke: “Bush and the Republicans were the cause of the Sub-prime Mortgage Crisis...”
That, and I saw some Barney Frank commercials that said exactly the same thing.
I think since I saw that Barney Frank commercial before the election, I have not watched television since. (I don’t watch any TV anyway, except for an occasional football game, but that was where they were placing the political ads...)
Sunofnoonoo is a dope. Go for Steele.
No,no, no, no, no!
DUH!
You are indeed correct. I know better than to post without waking up. I just saw the name, John Sununu, and my anti-Rino-ism took hold of me.
Because of the need for getting things right, I will now flog myself while making mad passionate love to Mr. Coffee...
Thanks!
Even more hysterical were the Sununu ads that linked Shaheen to President Bush. Her on-air quotes: "I'll stand with president Bush..." repeated over and over. Bush-bashing Sununu over Steele? No, thanks.
I call them tired old Republican retreads, but the idea's the same. Enough with the worn-out stuff.
Joe the Plumber for RNC Chair.
NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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