New Hampshire Senator John Sununu a Possible VP Candidate

Cross posted on Grizzly Groundswell

 New Hampshire senator John Sununu, who looks as though he is going to lose his re-election bid to Jeanne Shaheen as New Hampshire looks poised to turn a deeper shade of blue, it rumored to be one of the candidates for vice president that John McCain is looking at.

 According to this article John Sununu and John McCain are good friends and the speculation is that Sununu’s friendship with McCain could lead to his being chosen as a running mate for John McCain.

 John Sununu has voted in line with President Bush about 85% of the time which is about average for Republicans in the senate. However he now appears to be trying to distance himself from the president, probably in an effort to win re-election to the senate. His seat is considered one of the most vulnerable by national Democrats.

In the Senate, Sununu has voted about 85 percent of the time with the GOP in the current Congress, basically in line with his fellow Republicans’ voting patterns. Democrats are using that statistic against him in the race with former New Hampshire governor Jeanne Shaheen.

“His record doesn’t show really any independence whatsoever,” said Alex Reese, a spokesman for the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “That shows that he’s just kind of rolling over for George Bush.”

 Sununu however, is trying to paint himself more along the lines of John McCain

“I found that I could learn a tremendous amount by watching the way (McCain) worked in the Senate,” Sununu said in an interview. “Whether you agree or disagree with him on a particular issue, he’s effective.”

 I have had a few problems with Sununu over the years. He voted to give legal rights to detainees at GITMO, and he was among the first senators, Republican or Democrat, to call for the resignation of Alberto Gonzalez. Both of these issues do not sit well with me.

 In my opinion John Sununu would not be a great choice by McCain for vice president for a couple of reasons.

One. I don’t think he has the name recognition nationally to draw in voters like myself who would need to see a very strong vice president nominee if McCain hopes to win back the conservatives he has shunned for the last eight years.

 Two. I really think that he needs to nominate a governor for vice president. That goes for the Democrats as well. A sitting senator has not run for president and won since John F Kennedy, who was only the second to do so. LBJ and Richard Nixon were senators at one time, but not while they were running for president. The reason being is that governors have wielded executive power. They have delegated authority, made tough decisions, and have gotten things done. Senators do nothing but legislate, therefor in theory they are less qualified to become president. This year a senator will become president and I think that no matter who the president will be, it is in the country’s best interest to have a governor at least in the vice president’s seat.

 So while I think it would be real interesting for someone from my state to be running for such a high office, I want him to stay here. I want him here for selfish reasons. While I have had a few problem with John Sununu, it is vital to New Hampshire that he wins re-election in the fall. His opponent, Jeanne Shaheen is a tax and spend liberal and we don’t need any more of her type in Washington. As governor of New Hampshire she instituted the statewide property tax that is crippling many middle class residents. She will bring more tax and spend ideas to Washington.

 I don’t think that John Sununu is a realist candidate for vice president, I think this is all just speculation. I also don’t think John Sununu has a realist chance to retain his senate seat. But I hope he does. We need to defeat Jeanne Shaheen.