Gregg Appointed To Commerce: What Does This Mean For New Hampshire?

On February 3, President Obama announced the appointment of New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg:

Gregg Tapped To Head Commerce

Now don’t get me wrong, I think that Judd Gregg is ideally suited to heads the Commerce Department, but where does that leave New Hampshire Conservatives? Try “concerned.”

The rumor at this writing is that Senator Gregg’s former Chief of Staff, Bonnie Newman, will be appointed to the seat. Newman has an impressive resume, but has never held elective office. Newman’s lack of elective experience and low name recognition make her an inviting target when the seat is up for grabs in two-years.

Current NH Congressman Hodes is expected to announce his candidacy for Gregg’s Senate seat sometime in the coming weeks. Prior to Gregg’s departure, Hodes had hinted at a run for the Senate, but Gregg’s departure will most assuredly cinch the deal for Hodes. Hodes has been mediocre Congressman, but sometimes-in New Hampshire, mediocre is the most important attribute; just look at how popular New Hampshire’s ineffective Governor Lynch is (Do nothing and don’t ruffle anyone’s feathers….presto 70% approval rating!). Most of the time New Hampshirians prefer their representatives to be like a New Hampshire winter, ..........dull.

More importantly, Hodes is a friend of NH’s other Senator, Jeanne Sheehan, as well as an early political supporter of President Obama. Should Newman run unopposed in the GOP primary for Gregg’s seat in two years, Hodes has a better than average chance of winning.

How should the NH GOP respond?