Congressman John E. Sununu will challenge fellow Republican and two-term incumbent Senator Bob Smith in 2002.
NHPR's Josh Rogers has more.
Congressman Sununu told supporters he�s running because he�s committed to delivering a brand of public service untainted by self-interest.
'I know I have the skills the strength the vision and the energy to respond to the challenges of today and tomorrow, As a US senator I�ll always put the interests of our state and country before my own ambition. I�ll work hard every day to make NH proud and I won�t let you down.'
Such claims are commonplace in a campaign kick off. But each seemed calculated to couch Sununu�s open challenge as an example of political heroism in an uncertain time.
'More than ever America needs its citizens to step up to volunteer time talents, to share ideas and to stand for public office. the strength in our democracy the vitality of our democracy to defer or alter our electoral process in any way would only provide the terrorists with a victory.'
Most supporters in attendance, however, were less given to seeing Sununu�s bid as an unalloyed triumph of civic virtue. Instead they tended to view the race more pragmatically. State Representative Steven Avery said he backed Sununu because he�s got the best shot of beating the likely democratic nominee Governor Jeanne Shaheen.
'He�s got a much better chance of doing it Bob has got too much baggage. Over the years he�s just accumulated a bunch of things she can kill him with. And the fact that he left the Republican Party and did that whole little number left a lot or republican really unhappy with him.'
But worse that Smith�s leaving the GOP, claims former House speaker Donna Sytek, is the way he chose to rejoin the fold.
'Bob Smith all his career was a principled person, that�s what I liked about him. But when he came back to the party because a chairmanship opened I was really offended � that didn�t seem like a principled action to me.'
But if some Sununu partisans were willing to cast aspersions on his primary opponent, Congressman Sununu, for now at least was not.
'I�m here to talk about my strengths, my abilities and what I have to offer the state, thank you.'
Expect that much change in the next year.
