Sen. Judd Gregg to move to cabinet, “weak GOP candidate” Bonnie Newman expected to take his seat
February 3, 2009
by Sheryl Lee
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New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg (R) - Obama's 17th man
Last Friday we reported speculation that New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg would be Obama’s 16th man, and that Obama would appoint him as Secretary of Commerce in hopes of getting a Democrat appointed to fill his seat in the Senate, thereby giving the Dems the 60-seat majority needed to halt a filibuster.
Today we learned from Jonathan Martin of Politico that Gregg has stated as a condition of his acceptance that a Republican be appointed to replace him:
A source familiar with the discussions between Gregg and the White House said the announcement would come at 11 a.m. [Tuesday], a day after Gregg and New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch made clear that Gregg’s exit would not mean a loss for Senate Republicans – at least in the short term.
“I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate,” the three-term senator said in a statement. “The Senate leadership, both Democratic and Republican, and the governor understand this concern, and I appreciate their consideration of this position.”
Based on a statement made by Gov. John Lynch, New Hampshire Republicans feel confident that he will “install a Republican caretaker” to take Gregg’s place.
Bonnie Newman, a former Gregg aide, academic and official in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, is the top contender to take Gregg’s seat.
Democrats view Gregg’s departure as a potential gain in 2010, because they won’t be running a candidate against an incumbent. Their best bet, they feel, is to appear uninvolved in the selection process, while pushing Lynch to “appoint a GOP caretaker or a weak GOP candidate who will have a tough time defeating a Democrat in the state in 2010.”
Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes is rumored to be prepared to announce “very soon” whether he will be in the Senate race in 2010. A spokesperson for Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter declined to comment on the possibility of her candidacy for Senate.
Kathy Sullivan, a former state Democratic Party chairwoman, expressed the opinion that a “less conservative Republican now would be relatively easy for the Democrats to beat in 2010.
“If this all comes to pass, I think the person will be more of a moderate than Judd Gregg was,” she said. “And he’s leaving the Republicans in a real bind in respect to the 2010 race.”
Still, Sullivan conceded the situation was not ideal.
“In a perfect world, yeah, I’d love for Judd Gregg to leave the Senate to go write a book,” she acknowledged. “But frankly, he could never come back to New Hampshire. The Republicans would kill him.”
Is that all it takes? Someone should have let us know.
Anyway — in case you weren’t keeping score: “weak GOP candidate” Bonnie Newman is expected to replace Judd Gregg — Obama’s 16th 17th man — and Democratic Reps. Paul Hodes (likely) Carol Shea-Porter (maybe) are anticipated to challenge Newman for the seat in 2010.
just did a quick search on Bonnie Newman…didn’t find a complete bio, but her background appears to be in education.
it will be interesting to see (if she’s appointed) whether she’s taking the seat as a caretaker, or whether she intends to run for election in 2010.
If Bonnie Newman is a “weak candidate” but turns out to be a good senator and wants to remain one, she can be strengthened with our help.
A little OT, but why is Nancy Killefer the only Obama nominee to step down over her tax problems, when they were at the lowest dollar amount and were the most promptly resolved, of all the tax problems his nominees have had thus far?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28994296
“The Associated Press disclosed that in 2005 the District of Columbia government had filed a more than $900 tax lien on her home for failure to pay unemployment compensation tax on household help. Since then, administration officials have refused to answer questions about the lien, which she resolved five months after the lien was filed.”
Excellent point, samanthasmom. I was thinking that too. I need to get up to speed on her record, but I’m inclined to support her already, unless there’s something huge I don’t agree with, like she supported torture or something.
If nothing else, it’s one more female in the Senate!
PG, was just thinking the same thing. I hope this is not a case of a woman being thrown over the side to distract the media while the big offender waltzes through the door.
Anna Belle,
I agree. Still better check her as a possible tool of the men rather than a woman for women.
I think we all should be celebrating a woman in the Senate and not calculating the politics behind the 2010 elections. I would also suggest TNA send her a letter of congratulations, and let her know we exist and that we want to work with her on issues affecting women.
Kathy in CA – good point!
does Newman leave the door open to run in 2010, or is she appointed to finish out Gregg’s term and that’s it?
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