Who's who for Governor?
Union Leader:
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Guinta sizing up run for
governor
By JOHN DISTASO
Senior Political Reporter
14 hours, 55 minutes ago
And there just may be a competitive race for governor
shaping up -- for a change.
Guinta gearing up?
Republican Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta is very
interested in running for governor but is weighing the pro and cons. At the same
time, serious steps are being taken to help him size up the outlook, needs and
challenges of a statewide candidacy.
We've learned that Guinta's senior advisor, Mike Biundo
of Meridian Communications, was in
Guinta was urged to run by many New Hampshire
Republicans he met on the presidential primary campaign trail with his
candidate, Rudy Giuliani. But many questions are to be answered, not the least
of which undoubtedly involve Guinta's ability to raise enough money to mount a
serious campaign.
If he does run, Guinta also would be questioned locally
about his ability to devote enough time to his job while also focusing on a
statewide campaign. Lots of private discussion will take place before a final
decision is made.
"It's certainly very flattering" to be asked to run,
Guinta said yesterday. "People look at the accomplishments we've had in
"But I love my job as mayor, and right now I'm focused
on delivering on the agenda I've set for the city."
What will happen? Our guess -- and it's truly a guess at this point -- is that he'll run, he'll mount a strong campaign and even if he loses by a respectable margin, at 37, he likely remains the leading candidate for the 2010 cycle.
Bruce, Chuck and Joe
What of Bruce Keough? While chairing Mitt Romney's
campaign in the state, he also was often encouraged to run, but when we asked
him about his plans yesterday, he refused to comment. Republicans, both in the
State House and outside, are under the impression he's leaning against
it.
Keough, a careful man, may believe that 2008 will be
another tough year for Republicans, especially after looking at the presidential
primary vote totals. About 50,000 more people voted in the Democratic primary
than the Republican contest.
Keough also has business and family considerations and
has never considered himself a career politician. But if he does not run this
time, then when?
Former state Sen. Chuck Morse of
"At this point, we've been heavily involved in our
business and I haven't been thinking about it," he said. "It's just not on the
agenda." He said he, too, received calls from people asking him to be a
candidate.
"It's nice to still be wanted," he said. "We're not
leaving politics, but we've got a lot to get accomplished (in the private
sector) right now."
State Sen. Joe Kenney leaves no doubt about his
intensions. He's in.
He said this week that with the holidays and primary
over, he will be back on the campaign trail with several speaking engagements
lined up.
Gov. John Lynch yesterday deflected a question raised at
a news conference about his plans to run for a third term, but he already has a
political team in place and began raising money with a fund-raiser last
fall.
Kenney and other State House Republicans believe they
have plenty of issues on which to base challenges to Lynch and the
Democrats.
GOP chair
Kenney says the governor approved $12 million for the
Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) "to fix broken down old
buildings," while a host of bridges across the state are red lined and while
tolls have been raised.
He says Lynch raised the cigarette tax and signed a
bloated budget into law but "lost a golden opportunity to eliminate" the
developmentally disabled waiting list.
Then, there are the social issues. Parental notification
is back, with bill sponsor Rep. Fran Wendelboe saying that her plan is
constitutional and contains an emergency health exception and a clear judicial
bypass.
