The choice — to not point out the tough phrases for Washington — have been met with frustration by occasion strategists.
That sentiment was all over the place within the wake of Sununu’s announcement because the prevailing knowledge had been that he was an all-but-certain candidate towards Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan subsequent November. As a result of the occasion leaders anticipated Sununu to run, they left him to his personal timeline — and largely averted actively recruiting folks into the race except and till they knew what the governor was going to do.
Sununu’s determination then not solely comes as a little bit of a shock and letdown for nationwide Republican strategists but in addition creates an issue because the occasion should discover one other credible challenger to Hassan — and do it quick. (One title you might be prone to hear lots is former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who misplaced her seat to Hassan in 2016.)
It additionally has reverberations outdoors of New Hampshire.
With Sununu’s no-go determination, Hassan possible begins any normal election race with an edge — albeit a slim one given her job approval numbers are middling and the state is cut up fairly evenly down partisan traces.
Make no mistake: New Hampshire will likely be aggressive subsequent fall. Nevertheless it’s not the straightforward layup that it might need been if Sununu had determined to run.
With New Hampshire now a pure leap ball — pending who Republicans can recruit now that Sununu is out — Republicans could have to widen their seek for aggressive seats. New Hampshire, which might have been Republicans’ high pickup probability had Sununu run, is now again in a gaggle of seats that features Nevada, Arizona and Georgia. Following final Tuesday’s election, GOPers have been promising to place Colorado on the aggressive map as effectively however they do not seem to have a top-tier candidate there but.
For Republicans, they’ve 5 seats in potential peril: open seats in North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania in addition to seats held by Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Marco Rubio of Florida.
With the Senate cut up 50-50 proper down the center, each aggressive seat takes on outsized significance. Which is why Sununu saying “no” is such an enormous deal for Senate Republicans. Had he jumped into the race, it could have been a serious momentum builder for Republicans throughout the nation — proof constructive that the political atmosphere was tilting their manner and would proceed to favor them during subsequent November.
With Sununu staying put, nevertheless, a few of that power and pleasure from final week’s elections drops off. Which is the very last thing Republicans want in the meanwhile.
