U.S. Senator James Jeffords is expected to announce he's leaving the Republican party, giving Democrats a slight edge in the U.S. Senate. NHPR's Trish Anderton reports on how this might affect New Hampshire's future.
POLITICAL ANALYSTS AGREE NEW HAMPSHIRE?S SENIOR SENATOR BOB SMITH HAS THE MOST AT STAKE. SMITH FACES WHAT?S ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE A TOUGH RE-ELECTION BATTLE NEXT YEAR. IN A DEMOCRATIC SENATE, HE WOULD NO LONGER HOLD THE POWERFUL POSITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE CHAIR. JACK MCENANY IS THE EDITOR OF THE NEW HAMSPHIRE PRIMARY SOURCE DOT COM WEBSITE.
007 103 smith is going to lose comm chairmanship which is the only thing he has to offer anyone anymore.
IRONICALLY, SMITH BURNED A NUMBER OF BRIDGES WITHIN HIS PARTY WHEN HE HIMSELF BRIEFLY BROKE RANKS TO ENTER THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL RACE AS AN INDEPENDENT. RECENTLY SEVERAL INFLUENTIAL REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO DRAFT U-S CONGRESSMAN JOHN SUNUNU TO RUN AGAINST HIM. BUT SOME POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY VOTERS DON?T CARE ABOUT COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS. AND SMITH?S SUPPORTERS WARN IT?S UNWISE TO WRITE OFF THE TWO-TERM SENATOR TOO EARLY. BARBARA CLINTON WORKED ON SMITH?S EARLIEST CAMPAIGNS FOR CONGRESS.
he?s been underestimated ever since he first ran for office because the pundits are not taking into account the people who vote for him// the silent majority// and that?s the bottom line.
U-S SENATOR JUDD GREGG ALSO STANDS TO LOSE IF THE SENATE GOES TO THE DEMOCRATS. GREGG CHAIRS A KEY APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE AND HAS A LEADERSHIP POSITION AS CHIEF DEPUTY WHIP. BUT POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY HE WILL CONTINUE TO WIELD INFLUENCE, PARTLY BECAUSE OF HIS TIES TO THE WHITE HOUSE. DEMOCRAT ANALYST JIM MONAHAN.
002 06 from my perspective his value seems to be he?s got great working relatnship with pres and that won?t change.
AS FOR HOW A SENATE CHANGEOVER WOULD AFFECT THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE PARTIES ARE PREDICTABLY SPLIT. DEMOCRATS INSIST A DEMOCRATIC SENATE WOULD BETTER REFLECT THE STATE?S ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES. REPUBLICAN DAVE CARNEY SAYS NEW HAMPSHIRE COULD LOSE OUT IF THE SENATE CUTS DEFENSE SPENDING. BUT HE SAYS ANY CHANGES WON?T BE DRASTIC.
006 210 probably less positive things happening in the high tech defense industry, and they?ll probably have some impact on the shipyard, but other than that I don?t think it?ll have an overall neg effect bc jeffords gregg snowe and other northern new england del stick together pretty well.
THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEMOCRATIC SENATE BRINGS UP A FAMILIAR CONCERN: GRIDLOCK. WITH THE SENATE PITTED AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, SOME FEAR THE FLOW OF LEGISLATION IN WASHINGTON COULD SOON SLOW TO A TRICKLE. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
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