John LeBoutillier
Monday, March 26, 2001

With the U.S. Senate deadlocked 50-50, it is no time to do anything to endanger one of our Republican senators.

But a disturbing event is ongoing up in the Granite state – New Hampshire. One of the nation’s most conservative senators, Bob Smith, may soon find himself under political assault from a fellow good conservative, Congressman John Sununu, in a GOP Senate primary.

This fight could thus make it possible for a Democrat to win that crucial Senate seat – and thus turn the U.S. Senate over to Democratic control.

Young Sununu, the son of former governor John Sununu, is a good congressman. He would make a fine U.S. senator. But Bob Smith already is a fine senator!

Many New Hampshire Republicans fear that Bob Smith cannot win re-election; he barely won six years ago. It was so close that the TV networks called him the loser that night – and then had to reverse their call. Sounds like Florida in 2000!

So they want to run someone who they think can win. Senator Smith angered many GOPers by briefly leaving the party last year and running for president as an independent. This was seen as an act of great disloyalty – and many Republicans have vowed revenge.

But when Rhode Island Senator John Chafee unexpectedly died last spring, Smith scurried back into the Republican fold and was rewarded by being elevated to the post of chairman of a crucial environmental committee. Trent Lott, the Senate majority leader, was more than happy to welcome Bob Smith back into the fold. And Lott and others have already begun campaigning for Smith.

But all is apparently not forgotten up in New Hampshire. The normally wonderful Manchester Union Leader – one of the best newspapers in the nation – is leading the charge against Smith – and encouraging young Sununu to run.

The shame of it all is that New Hampshire has a Clinton-liberal governor, Jeane Shaheen, who is going to run for Smith's Senate seat. She could be defeated – if the Republicans don't chop each other up in a nasty and divisive primary fight.

With Shaheen running for the US Senate, that leaves the Governorship for the asking. That is the race for young Sununu to make.

If he wants a 'promotion' from the House, go for governor.

So far he has said he would not run for governor.

But he should leave Bob Smith alone.

I have fought side by side with Bob Smith on the POW issue for 18 years. He is the only U.S. senator who gives a damn about our abandoned men. Oh, sure, all 99 other senators pay obligatory lip service to the POW issue. But then they all go along with the cover up. Not one of them has the guts to go after the truth – no matter where it might lead!

For that alone, Bob Smith should be re-elected.

On all other issues dear to conservatives’ hearts, no senator is more down-the-line consistent than Bob Smith.

Can he be re-elected? Of course, if all Republicans and conservatives band together behind him.

But if we rip each other apart in a bitter primary between two worthy and equally qualified conservative Republicans, then the Democrats may win the seat – and control of the entire U.S. Senate!

If you agree that we cannot allow this to happen, here is what you can do:

Call Congressman Sununu in D.C. and urge him not to run against Bob Smith. Call 202-225-5456.

And call Joe McQuaid, the editor of the Manchester Union Leader, and urge him to call off the dogs and support Bob Smith. Call 603-668-4321.

Let's honor Ronald Reagan by preventing two good Republicans from running against each other. Instead let’s use our precious ammo against the real enemies: big-spending liberals.

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