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.
“I call them tired old Republican retreads...”
You are too kind. The language I would use is not acceptable here on FR.
Well, in real life the phrase is little bit more, err "salty." I cleaned it up for family consumption.
.......We need a Die hard Conservative that will hold to Principle.......
Within a week a flaw will be uncovered in his conservatism and he will be tossed under the conservative bus for being imperfect.
I’m FREAKING tired of family members expecting to be the next in line for something. Too many connections to the BUSH’s.
Has he been the CEO of any organization, private or public?
Has he acquired any skills re organizing complex organizations using volunteers in most areas?
What about fund raising? Is he capable of teaching and putting together an effective campaign.
How does he get along with the various state GOP organizations?
What are his attributes?
We want the very best for this post.
NO
STEELE!!
We don't need the Big tent philosophy, Reagan proved the middle will follow a true conservative.
Rarely do I agree with Carville. He said the Republicans biggest lost Nov 4 was not the POTUS it was the younger generation. I agree if the Republican party cannot convince younger generations/Immigrants to vote conservative then they have out lived there reason for existence.
Sunnunu as GOP chair?
Another reason the GOP is finished as a party.
Conservatives need to form their own party, and not be co-opted by feckless and gutless RINOs ever again .
Enough of this insanity. We have a country to save.
........Reagan proved the middle will follow a true conservative......
A very great number of Reagan voters is dead. It is no longer reasonable to assert todays demographics and use Regan as a model that will appeal to them.
McCain worshipped the middle only to find it was not there. Regan Democrats were they margin and they are dead.
Although Obama-level giddy at the possibility of Sununu as RNC chairman; a number of people here in NH do not like the idea; as they preger he stick around Red Hampshire to run for Governor. Perosnally; I prefer that option, as well. That way; he only stinks up NH, instead of the entire GOP.
I will second that !!
“A very great number of Reagan voters is dead. It is no longer reasonable to assert todays demographics and use Regan as a model that will appeal to them”
Agree to a point, lot of the Reagan voters are dead and he means nothing to a lot of the younger generation.
Reagan convinced the Middle they belonged with us. McCain tried to convince us we belonged with the middle and many of us said no thanks.
Vote for McCain because BHO would be worse is not a policy or platform but sadly that was the only arguement we had.
The old saw is that Generals want to fight the last war. That was precisely McCain’s failing.
No! Absolutely not! NO! NO! NO!
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