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The news that former Governor Jeanne Shaheen will likely announce her candidacy for the United States Senate seat now temporarily held by John E. Sununu is good news for New Hampshire, and good news for America.
It means real change in Washington is on the way. In just about 68 weeks!
I've been supporting Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand, with the expectation that if Shaheen did decide to run he would withdraw his candidacy. New Hampshire Democrats need the best chance to replace Sununu, and it's clear that either John Lynch or Jeanne Shaheen would be that best chance. Steve knows that too, and the news is he's expected to end his Senate bid. He's a class act who knows a lot is at stake for our nation in the 2008 election.
I have read and heard some comments by Democrats who oppose a Shaheen candidacy, and some have asked me why I am excited about a Shaheen candidacy. It was fairly well known that the good Governor and I had battled over the repeal of the death penalty back in 2000, when I was primary sponsor of the legislation that she vetoed after it passed both the House and Senate. We also had our rather public disagreements over tax reform issues.
But those are exactly that -- disagreements over some issues. In the case of Jeanne Shaheen, I agree with her much more than I disagree, and I have no question that her character, her leadership, and her vision is what New Hampshire and America needs, We need those qualities now and in 2008 even more than when she was Governor or in 2002, when she narrowly lost against guess whom -- John Sununu (can you say "phone scam?")
If people wouldn't vote for or support others just because they disagree, even if passionately at times, on a few issues, then no one would be supporting anyone. Jeanne Shaheen gets my vote because she's earned it through the years. And, she's simply a good person, which accounts for a whole lot in my book.
For much of what she has done through the years, dating back to her time in the NH State Senate, Jeanne Shaheen is a hero to me. And right now we need heroes in Washington, who will do good things like bringing our courageous soldiers home from Iraq, and working toward better education and health care for all.
In the meantime, all Democrats should express appreciation to Steve Marchand for taking on the challenge of a candidacy to beat a Republican who shouldn't be in the U.S. Senate. If Katrina Swett and Jay Buckey remain in the race, we should all respect that -- but Jeanne Shaheen deserves a rematch. Bring it on!
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