With the announcement that NH Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was to be the featured speaker at an upcoming GOP event before backing out, it appears she is at least taking the first initial steps to a possible run for NH’s US Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg. This further raises expectations that were first hinted at last week. With Paul Hodes taking a swipe at Nashua businessman Fred Tausch (Steward of Prosperity) in a recent fund-raising letter (reacting to THIS mail piece), given that the former is definitely –and the latter is rumored to be– a candidate, one cannot deny that the position jockeying has begun.
Drew Cline, apparently having sat down with Tausch recently, Twittered:
“Just spent an hour with the mysterious Fred Tausch, founder of STEWARD. First impression: This guy is for real.”
Paul Briand, writing in the Manchester Examiner writes, on Ayotte:
the candidacy has a certain amount of curb appeal for the centrists in both parties. She was appointed to her post by former Republican Gov. Craig Benson and was reappointed by current Democratic Gov. John Lynch.
She is the type of Republican that Colin Powell says the GOP desperately needs — moderate, not strident in the mode of Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney … and the Sununus.
Regarding another name being bandied about as "not ruling out" a Senate run, in 2006, Republican analyst Liz Mair wrote about Charlie Bass’ performance as NH’s District 2 Congressman, noting he was
a key moderate, with a strong record of supporting the war in Iraq, pursuing tax cuts benefiting the middle class and small businesses, and working to protect New Hampshire’s environment.
Let’s not forget that should John E. Sununu decide to take another crack at a Senate seat, he would be hard to beat in a primary, given his popularity is still high among Republicans. Also, other names I’ve heard bandied about are BAE Systems’ Rich Ashooh, who is active in numerous groups and boards across the state, and former Governor Steve Merrill.
OK GraniteGrok readers, what do YOU think? Can any of these guys and gal cut the mustard in a general campaign against the likely Dem nominee Paul Hodes? Have I left somebody out? Feel free to vote "none of the above" and leave your choice in the comment section below.