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.
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Good God. How stupid can these people be? What do we, the average Joes out here, have to do to regain control of the actual apparatus of this party? I’d like real suggestions, not “pitchforks” and revolutions. There must be a way.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I have had it up to HERE with anything even remotely connected to New Hampshire. After all, they, in their wisdom, rescued John McCain’s candidacy.
No Sunnunus for anything...ever!
The GOP needs the new ideas and a new direction that Newt Gingrich brings to the table.
Sununu was certainly the better (by far) of the two contenders for his seat but as RNC chairman - we need someone who is fresher and more conservative.
If they serve up the same stack of RINO horns as usual then nothing will have been accomplished and we will be stuck with socialists for ever more.
We need people who will not give any ground on any issue.
But of course he is not what one looks for in an RNC chairman.
He does have a future in NH politics.
A northeastern Republican? I thought that species was totally extinct. Absolutely no one whose state did not vote Republican should be given any leadership posts, because obviously they are not leaders.
If they pick him I will leave the Party.
LLS
newt backs Steele... he quit the race.
LLS
I’m getting a bit tired of all these dynastic politicians.
“’Serving the people’ is a family business for these people...”
Exactly.
It is 100% true!!!
“Keep it all in the family” is their motto.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!
“I call them tired old Republican retreads...”
You are too kind.
The language I would use is not acceptable here on FR.
Give me a break!!! This jerk is a sure recipe for more disaster.
Sorry but politics is the survival of the fittest. No losers.
At a time like this, the GOP needs a spine made of Steele.
Joe the Plumber would be better than Sununu the RINO.
We need a Die hard Conservative that will hold to Principle. Not a Sell out that wants to make peace with the Dems.
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