Posted on 04/21/2009 7:22:56 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Former Republican congressman Jeb Bradley revived his political career tonight by winning an open seat to the New Hampshire Senate in a special election.
The victory also provided a morale boost for Republicans, who campaigned hard to keep the seat in the Republican column and grab a win after last year's defeat in state and national elections.
Bradley, a Wolfeboro resident, defeated retired Judge Bud Martin 61 to 39 percent, according to numbers supplied by state Republicans.
The tally was 5,996 to 3,789, with Martin only winning two towns: Tamworth and his hometown of Sandwich.
"This was a traditional cut-spending and stop-the-growth-of-taxes New Hampshire campaign, and people responded to it," said former Gov. John H. Sununu, who took over control of the state GOP party earlier this year.
Bradley was ousted from Congress in 2006 and lost a bid to regain his seat last year. Supported by state Republicans, he ran a campaign that initially focused on taxes and the state budget but veered into social issues such as gay marriage and the transgender discrimination bill.
Democrat Martin, of Sandwich, supported deep but targeted spending cuts, but says the state cannot balance the budget on the backs of its neediest residents. He said he supported gay marriage but opposed the transgender discrimination bill as written.
Mike Brunelle, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said Republicans had never won the District 3 seat, which comprises towns in the eastern-central portion of the state. He also said the turnout was low.
"This was a tough district. At the end of the day we move forward. This was not a referendum on anything," he said.
Democrats hold 14 of the 24 Senate seats, but both parties poured money and time into the contest, which some consider a referendum on Democratic performance in Concord.
Sununu said energized Republicans from across the state volunteered on the campaign.
"As nice as the win was, the campaign was even better," Sununu said.
But Sununu said it was not such a referendum. Republicans aren't taking anything significant from the victory, he said. He said Bradley's election actually helps Lynch. Bradley could be counted on to sustain a Lynch veto of the gay marriage and transgender discrimination legislation, "if he (Lynch) finds the strength to veto that garbage," Sununu said.
Not even close. It was a wipeout.
There may be hope after all... If anything it may slow down the radical agenda as the commies will see this as a warning.
LOL!! I hope Sununu doesn't plan to run for Miss USA.
Congrats! Gov. Sununu was on Howie Carr about 2 weeks ago - he was really good. Good for Jeb Bradley as well.
Excellent!
It’s only one win but these days, I’ll take any win - no matter how small.
I made hundreds of calls for Bradley last election rotation.
Thank you for your efforts!!! Bravo!
This is AWESOME NEWS !! We desperately need Jeb in the NH Legislature combating all the stupid garbage the Dems are dishing up (like the famous “Bathroom Bill”).
GO JEB !!!!
Wow, what a good omen.
Good news bump!
Oh wait!
I thought the GOP needed to downplay and move left on the Social Issues.
At least that is what some of the posters here on FreeRepublic have been telling us lately.
Ex-Congressman Jeb Bradley wins special State Senate election in NH in Dem district, puts GOP 2 seats away from tying the body.
I think it's cute how Sununu Sr. is patting himself on the back for this one. He's done more than other Republican (except perhaps the Bass family) to ensure RAT victories in NH. Just a few weeks ago, the RATs were about to get a filibuster proof Senate by installing an ultra RINO in Gregg's Senate seat... and the ol' RINO Sununu actually sat back and APPLAUDED the move, showing nothin' but praise for the idea.
Sununu sure seems happy whenever a "Republican" who votes like a Democrat get installed in some office. Interesting coincidence. I bet he wishes Arnie was a resident of the east coast.
This is good news. Perhaps the ‘Rat tidal wave in NH has crested and is in decline. Of course, we need to take advantage of that- with the right candidates.
{Perhaps the ‘Rat tidal wave in NH has crested and is in decline.}
The acid test will be seen in next year’s Senate race.
For the past 4 years, CO, NH, OH, and Va jumped the shark. These states helped move the country to the Left. Reclaiming conservativism in America starts with CO, Va, OH, and NH.
Speaking of CO, did you see Public Polling Policy’s lastest polls on Obama, Bennet, and Ritter in CO? Their disapproval numbers are in the 40s. I’d like to see Rasmussen confirm these CO numbers before I get excited.
I am hoping that John Sununu, Jr. isn’t the nominee. Ex-Governor Steve Merril would be a better choice. He was hugely popular back in the day and reminds votes of better times.
“CO, NH, OH, and Va jumped the shark”
Don’t forget New Mexico and Nevada. Though I’m still hopeful about Nevada.
Correction, this was a GOP held seat not rat. William Denley (R) was the first term incumbent who resigned due to a DUI. Joe Kenney who lost badly to Gov. Lynch last year held the seat prior to Denley.
“Mike Brunelle, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said Republicans had never won the District 3 seat, which comprises towns in the eastern-central portion of the state. He also said the turnout was low.”
That should obviously read “Democrats had never won the District 3 seat”. It’s not likely there is a State Senate seat Republicans had never held. So I gather this was a safe GOP seat and therefore not a big deal that it was held.
Yeah, I caught that after I sent my post. That threw me off. It’s Dem seats we need to be winning, so we’re now no closer to the majority than we were at the last election. :-/
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