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Pollster: Write-in push may hurt Sununu
Concord Monitor ^ | 10/30/02 | HARRY R. WEBER

Posted on 10/31/2002 4:34:44 AM PST by RJCogburn

A write-in effort on behalf of incumbent U.S. Sen. Bob Smith has helped Democrat Jeanne Shaheen's Senate campaign against Republican John E. Sununu and could tip the balance on Election Day, a key pollster said yesterday.

Andrew Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, said data suggest the write-in campaigns could make a 2 to 4 percent difference by swaying Smith supporters to write in Smith, vote for Shaheen or cast no vote at all.

"It's a reason why Shaheen could win this race," Smith said. "This is the most interesting thing of this campaign so far."

A recent UNH poll showed Shaheen, a three-term governor, pulling even with Sununu, a three-term congressman who defeated Smith in the GOP primary. The poll found that 26 percent of those who voted for Smith in the primary now support Shaheen.

Another UNH poll is due out today or tomorrow. The election, closely watched because of its potential effect on control of the Senate, is Tuesday.

Smith has refused to discourage the write-in efforts. He said on primary night he would support Sununu, but he skipped a GOP unity breakfast two days later and has not appeared at any of Sununu's campaign events.

Dartmouth College government professor Dean Spiliotes agreed with pollster Smith.

"If it is a dead heat, even 1 or 2 percent could make a difference," he said. "Smith is certainly not going to stop it. The Smith campaign, or what's left of it, has sent a pretty clear message to Sununu that he is on his own."

Publicly, Republicans say they are not overly concerned about the write-in effort.

But privately, it's another matter. Organizers of the write-in say some Republicans have urged them to stop. President Bush asked Smith to attend a Sununu fund-raiser earlier this month, but Smith refused. And Sununu said in an interview last week with that any votes he fails to get could help Shaheen.

"I need and want every vote possible. I need and want the vote of everybody who supported Bob Smith in the primary," he said.

Sununu refused to say whether he had talked to Smith and asked him to call off the dogs. Smith did not return several phone calls to his Washington office yesterday.

Sununu spokeswoman Julie Teer said, "Since primary night, we've had tremendous support from supporters of Senator Smith. John Sununu doesn't take any vote for granted. He knows every vote counts."

Meanwhile, Shaheen has stepped up efforts to appeal to independents and Republicans, who outnumber Democrats by 75,000 in the state.

At least three groups are organizing write-in drives for Smith. One, Campaign for Political Leadership, said it has raised $10,000 and, judging by the number of visits to its Web site, it believes 3,000 to 5,000 voters could write in Smith's name.

"We have had both encouragement and discouragement from people within the Republican Party. Most of what we have gotten is discouragement," said group spokesman Eric Scott.

Mary Stipe of Merrimack, who is organizing another write-in effort, said her group has spoken to several hundred people about voting for Smith and has put up signs and handed out bumper stickers around the state.

"I don't plan on stopping," Stipe said. "Have I felt pressure? Yes."

Republican national committeeman Tom Rath downplayed the effect of the write-in effort.

"I think it's a very close race between two good candidates," Rath said. "I don't believe at the end of the day it will be a determining factor. I think the choice is so stark between John Sununu and Jeanne Shaheen and the stakes are so high."

He said there is little anyone can do now to stop the write-in campaigns.

Thomas Thomson, son of the late former Gov. Meldrim Thomson, urged Republicans in a newspaper editorial this week to stop the write-in campaign and back Sununu. He said his father would have given Smith the following advice.

"My friend, the people have spoken and we need to support the Republican candidate, John Sununu, for U.S. Senate," Thomson wrote. "For if we fail to do so, we make it easier for a liberal Democrat, Jeanne Shaheen, to ruin everything we as conservatives have worked and fought so hard for over the years."


TOPICS: New Hampshire; U.S. Senate
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To: Coop
Wow. Gee. I'm overwhelmed. I do hope Bob Smith surprises some people and shows up at the President's event in NH, publicly endorsing John Sununu.

Already did quite some time ago, but I guess you Smith bashers missed it. The only way I see Sununu winning this is if he runs a commercial praising Smith with a video of Smith endorsing Sununu on primary night. However, I think Sununu is much to proud and arrogant to do that even though it would make the difference and get him the Senate seat and satisfy his boundless selfish ambition for now.
21 posted on 11/01/2002 7:09:32 AM PST by rightwing2
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To: Coop; Commander8; Ron in Acreage; Durus; iconoclast; FiestyLittleGirl; Scholastic; Japedo; ...
Bob Smith has destroyed everything he has worked for. What a crying shame. He's reduced to nothing but a petty, whiny little boy.

Funny that you continue to blame everything that Sununu has done and continues to do on Bob Smith. Sununu destroyed everything Bob Smith has worked for beginning with the conservative cause in the United States Senate. A whiny little boy is exactly what Sununu is today as he and his supporters continue to cry and wimper as they see the writing on the wall in the hopes that conservative hero Senator Bob Smith will save the day for Sununu's flailing campaign by publicly endorsing him yet again.

Really? Who did Sununu stab in the back?

A stupid question for which you already know the answer. The answer is Sununu stabbed in the back the greatest conservative champion in the United States Senate, Robert Smith and split the NH Republican party with his selfish campaign to get elected to the Senate at the ripe old age of 38.
22 posted on 11/01/2002 7:17:07 AM PST by rightwing2
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To: rightwing2
Already did quite some time ago

Do you ever stop lying? Do you ever make even a hint of an effort at telling the truth? Ever?

Me a Smith basher, huh? A few months back you just thought I was your best buddy when I would tell people Sununu wasn't a shoo-in to beat Smith. Gosh, how drastically I've changed! LOL

23 posted on 11/01/2002 7:55:28 AM PST by Coop
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To: rightwing2
Liar.

John Sununu, no matter how accomplished a politician, could not possibly have defeated a powerful 18-year incumbent unless said incumbent lost the support of his voters and his party leaders. Period.

24 posted on 11/01/2002 7:56:43 AM PST by Coop
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To: Coop
Do you ever stop lying? Do you ever make even a hint of an effort at telling the truth? Ever? Me a Smith basher, huh? A few months back you just thought I was your best buddy when I would tell people Sununu wasn't a shoo-in to beat Smith. Gosh, how drastically I've changed! LOL Liar. John Sununu, no matter how accomplished a politician, could not possibly have defeated a powerful 18-year incumbent unless said incumbent lost the support of his voters and his party leaders. Period.

Unlike you getting out the truth on behalf of the conservative Republican cause is the only thing I care about. You were never a Smith supporter and you think pro-abortion Sen. Allen is the best thing to happen to the Republican Party since Ronald Reagan. Those facts, combined with your vicious attacks against conservative hero Bob Smith and your support for mushy moderate RINOs like Sununu, have left whatever conservative credentials you ever even pretended to have in tatters.

Calling me a liar does not change the fact that you have proven yourself to be devoid of any honor, honesty and respect by your own constant lies about Bob Smith, his supporters and myself on these threads. You know very well that it was Sununu, not Smith that was the backstabber in this race. You have consistantly joined your tin-foil hat Sununu RINO scorched earth comrades in blaming Bob Smith for everything Sununu himself is guilty of and/or responsible for doing. Get a life!
25 posted on 11/01/2002 8:09:37 AM PST by rightwing2
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To: rightwing2
Liar
26 posted on 11/01/2002 8:43:56 AM PST by Coop
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To: rightwing2; Commander8; All
It really amazes me that all during the Primary that all I heard was "Sununu is the only one that has a chance to beat Shaheen". "Sununu is the only one that can get enough of the Independent votes to Beat Shaheen".
Seems like Some (not all ) In the Sununu Camp want to keep running for the Primary. Now because he is behind in the polls, By all means Don't blame Sununu, lets Blame the other Republican Smith. Why is not Sununu Running Counter attack ad's against Shaheen about CFR? (That it's an Anti-Constitution Bill and that's why he voted against it?) Why is not Sununu Running ad's about Shaheens Pro-Death stance (?) I do however give him Credit for the good ad about doubling NH spending in 6 years.
Bob Smith has nothing to do with Sununu being 7 Points behind in the Polls. Bob smith has stayed Quiet, is not Endorsing any sort of Write in Campaign. It's really starting to get Redundant that Most of the Posts on FR are Not against Shaheen ... they are Against Bob Smith. Why is that?

Again I will say that this is a rouse by the Dems to keep the Focus to split the party. Words fail me that people fall for it Hook Line and Sinker. Bob Smith is a Great man of Integrity. I really find it shameful that smear campaigns are still going on against him. Election is Tuesday. Get out the Vote and Lets Retake the Senate.

Live Free or Die Trying
27 posted on 11/01/2002 9:03:33 AM PST by Japedo
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To: Coop
Liar

How familiar. Since liberal RINOs like you can't refute the truth of statements in defense of principled conservatives, you resort to adolescent name-calling and insults as parting shots. By thus doing, you have only proven that you lost the debate. The funny thing is that your latest lying attacks against me come after I have declared my support for Sununu on this thread in the critical last week of the campaign despite the fact that I have had to endure all of the very personal smear attacks coming from you and your fellow RINO scorched earth party splitting Smith backers. Very adolescent of you indeed.
28 posted on 11/01/2002 9:08:06 AM PST by rightwing2
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To: Japedo; Commander8; iconoclast
It really amazes me that all during the Primary that all I heard was "Sununu is the only one that has a chance to beat Shaheen". "Sununu is the only one that can get enough of the Independent votes to Beat Shaheen". Seems like Some (not all ) In the Sununu Camp want to keep running for the Primary. Now because he is behind in the polls, By all means Don't blame Sununu, lets Blame the other Republican Smith. Why is not Sununu Running Counter attack ad's against Shaheen about CFR? (That it's an Anti-Constitution Bill and that's why he voted against it?) Why is not Sununu Running ad's about Shaheens Pro-Death stance (?) I do however give him Credit for the good ad about doubling NH spending in 6 years.

Bob Smith has nothing to do with Sununu being 7 Points behind in the Polls. Bob smith has stayed Quiet, is not Endorsing any sort of Write in Campaign. It's really starting to get Redundant that Most of the Posts on FR are Not against Shaheen ... they are Against Bob Smith. Why is that? Again I will say that this is a rouse by the Dems to keep the Focus to split the party. Words fail me that people fall for it Hook Line and Sinker. Bob Smith is a Great man of Integrity. I really find it shameful that smear campaigns are still going on against him. Election is Tuesday. Get out the Vote and Lets Retake the Senate.
Live Free or Die Trying

Oh yeah and don’t forget Johnny Spectre who got away with stating that he wished that Bob Smith would die three times before he was suspended from posting. That was beyond the pail. Like you, I have long believed that many of the most militant FR Team Sununu folks were really working for Shaheen since they refuse to criticize her despite the fact that she is the one running against Sununu, but have instead declared that Public Enemy #1 is conservative hero and soon to be former Senator Bob Smith, who as you pointed out they succeeded in defeating nearly two months ago!

These Smith bashing Sununu RINOs (not all as you said) are doing what liberals do best and that is to deny responsibility for their own mistakes and cry and whine that all their problems must be someone else’s fault. There is absolutely no personal responsibility being taken in the Sununu camp. There is a lot of denial as the gap between Shaheen and Sununu continues to grow so that Sununu is now losing by seven points. Anyway, given that Sununu has lost so much momentum due to the FR Team Sununu party splitting, scorched earth folks, I have now publicly endorsed Sununu for Senate in the sincere hope that this will give him the bump and momentum he needs to go over the top and help win the Senate for the GOP, which at this point is a long shot. I didn’t before because I was so optimistic about the GOP retaking the Senate that I thought we could win it without him and I no longer believe that. I would be more than happy to put that in print, "Former Smith Voter Rightwing2 Endorses Sununu for Senate" LOL! I can’t say that I have any confidence that he is going to win though running as he is as much as seven points behind.

I also want to say that it looks like some Sununu folks are sobering up as the facts we have been stating all along have become more obvious. I for one will gladly welcome former Sununu backers back into the FR conservative fold and let bygones be bygones unless they follow the sore-loser liberal path of resorting to calling me a “liar” like the FR anti-conservative who goes by the name of “coop”, of course. The important thing to realize is that we should all be part of the same Republican team since we all want the same result—one party Republican rule of this country and only differ on who is best positioned to do it. You and I think we should support conservatives for Congress even though many of them don’t.
29 posted on 11/01/2002 9:29:56 AM PST by rightwing2
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To: Japedo
Smith lost, the people have spoken, get over it and vote To regain the senate.
30 posted on 11/01/2002 9:46:02 AM PST by CPT Clay
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To: rightwing2
There is a lot of denial as the gap between Shaheen and Sununu continues to grow so that Sununu is now losing by seven points.

Keep the Faith Rightwing2, NH Politics is anything but predicable. Last time Smith was running for Sen. they even declared him the Loser they were so confidant he was going to Lose. This is a close race yes. But..I pray its a Landslide "R" win this time around. Bush is in Portsmouth right now, and that's the best place he could be in this state IMO. Portsmouth is one of the most Liberal towns of NH. (It's close to UNH too) I honestly Pray Sununu wins this (never thought I'd be saying that, but.. Such is life in Politics! LOL) I pray we re-take the Senate on Tuesday!!!
Live Free or Die Trying

31 posted on 11/01/2002 9:46:27 AM PST by Japedo
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To: CPT Clay
Smith lost, the people have spoken, get over it and vote To regain the senate.

?? What part of my post say's im "not over it"? Did you read the entire post...? what's the matter with you?

32 posted on 11/01/2002 9:47:54 AM PST by Japedo
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To: Commander8
I support Senator Smith and wish him well in all his endeavors.

You make me want to puke.

There is NOTHING more important than the SCOTUS, and with Jeanne Shaheen and the Dems controlling the Senate, you can kiss Conservative control in the SCOTUS goodbye. All so you and your idiotic compatriots (or should I say fellow traitors) can "send a message". Well I am sick and tired of skunks trying to send messages.

I and my team have had less than 3 hrs sleep every single goddam night for 3 weeks so we can pump out ads to help the GOP gain a Senate majority, often pro-bono. And then I have to read digraceful posts like yours and watch a pro-death Socialist like Jeanne Shaheen join fellow Marxists like Debbie Stabenow, Hillary and Maria Cantwell in the Senate.

You are a disgrace and an S.O.B. You wont see the Democrats whining and standing on a stupid soapbox like you and your kind do, and so they won 7 SEATS in the last cycle and very nearly the Presidency.

YOU ARE THE RINO. YOU ARE THE TRAITOR TO THE GOP. I have nothing but comtmpt for you and the Smith bastards in NH. Damn you all to hell.

33 posted on 11/01/2002 10:30:29 AM PST by montag813
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To: montag813
I put my country before party, those of you who are GOP uber alles should look in a mirror before calling others "traitor."
34 posted on 11/02/2002 12:58:58 PM PST by Commander8
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