Lynch is out

[Lunar]

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Gov.+Lynch+won't+challenge+Sen.+Gregg&articleId=b601ddfa-4f4d-4509-a92c-754600240184

CONCORD – Gov. John Lynch said today he will not be a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010.

Lynch, a Democrat, acknowledged speculation in political circles that he might challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg. He said he plans to focus on budget issues here in New Hampshire.

“I can tell you that although I don’t know what I’ll be doing in 2010, I’m not going to run for the United States Senate. So, that shouldn’t be a distraction as I continue to work on the budget.”

Lynch made the statement before taking questions from reporters at a brief press conference today.

He has just begun his third two-year term as governor, on the strength of a landslide victory at the polls. He and his staff are struggling to close both a $90 million budget deficit this year, and a revenue gap of as much as $500 million over the next two years.

Lynch declined to say whether he will seek a fourth term as governor, referring again to his focus on budget issues and the state economy.

Gregg announced in November that he plans to run for election to a fourth term in the Senate. He was first elected in 1993.

U.S. Reps. Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter, both Democrats, have been mentioned as possible challengers against Gregg.

[Lunar]

By the way, Gregg isn't fully committed to running for reelection
http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0109/Gregg_running_again_in_2010.html?showall

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), one of the few elected Republicans left in New England, is leaving himself a bit of wiggle room for 2010.

“We should be focused on governing, not running,” Gregg told CSPAN’s Newsmakers program, which was recorded Thursday afternoon but will air on Sunday. “I have said I plan to run.”

Politico reporter Martin Kady II participated in the program, along with Washington Post reporter Shailagh Murray.

Gregg would be a natural target for Democrats in the 2010 cycle, and has maintained he is running. But when he was pressed further on his challenge in running in New Hampshire, which has transformed into a completely Democratic state, Gregg demurred.

“Let’s worry about the election a year from now, or a year and a half from now,” Gregg said.

Gregg is a powerful figure in the Senate, and his family name is huge in New Hampshire – his father was governor of the state – but he is already being talked up as a serious target in 2010 should he run. Several of Gregg’s other GOP Senate colleagues, including Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio and Mel Martinez of Florida, have already announced retirement plans.

We’ll take Gregg at his word for now that he “plans to run,” but will note that his statements leave some wiggle room if he changes his mind.

[Lunar]

I expect he'll decide once he sees his own poll numbers for exactly that reason.

[Lunar]

Well, if he opposes the economic stimulus and sides with Mitch and against Obama over that, I doubt New Hampshire will be upset. 

It sounds as if he could be scared into retirement by a strong Democratic challenger. Instinctively I would give Gregg an advantage as an incumbent, but if I were him, I would not want to spend the next year defending Tom Coburn's and Mitch McConnell's ideologies against Barack Obama's in New Hampshire and running on a platform of obstructing Obama's initiatives.

[Lunar]

Well, if he opposes the economic stimulus and sides with Mitch and against Obama over that, I doubt New Hampshire will be upset. 

It sounds as if he could be scared into retirement by a strong Democratic challenger. Instinctively I would give Gregg an advantage as an incumbent, but if I were him, I would not want to spend the next year defending Tom Coburn's and Mitch McConnell's ideologies against Barack Obama's in New Hampshire and running on a platform of obstructing Obama's initiatives.

Shaheen, for example, was one of the few Democrats to vote against the release of 350 billion to Obama.  Despite staging campaigns furiously railing against the bailout, Merkeley, both Udalls, and Hagan all supported the release of the funds.