2009: Judd Gregg resigns to join Obama cabinet. what happens next?

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

in 2009 Obama tried to tap Judd Gregg to serve in his cabinet, but Judd Gregg declined. What would have happened if he accepted? What happens with the Senate seat? Are there any major butterflies elsewhere?

[Roll Roons]

Nothing really changes. John Lynch pledged to appoint a Republican placeholder to the seat, and the placeholder would have not run in 2010 and allowed Ayotte to win.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Nothing really changes. John Lynch pledged to appoint a Republican placeholder to the seat, and the placeholder would have not run in 2010 and allowed Ayotte to win.

Yes, that appointment was Gregg's condition,

[brucejoel99]

Nothing really changes. John Lynch pledged to appoint a Republican placeholder to the seat, and the placeholder would have not run in 2010 and allowed Ayotte to win.

Yes, that appointment was Gregg's condition,

What are the chances he backtracks & appoints a Dem once Gregg's resignation has formally gone through? I'd presume 0 but there's some Governors (namely Republicans, of course, but still) who I could definitely see doing something like that.

[538Electoral]

Nothing different.

[brucejoel99]

Nothing different.

Depends on just how moderate (or dare I say liberal) the interim placeholder that Lynch appoints might be.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Nothing different.

Depends on just how moderate (or dare I say liberal) the interim placeholder that Lynch appoints might be.

Who are the potential picks?

[brucejoel99]

Nothing different.

Depends on just how moderate (or dare I say liberal) the interim placeholder that Lynch appoints might be.

Who are the potential picks?

Looks like he actually named the pick, Bonnie Newman, before Gregg withdrew from cabinet consideration. The article "describe(s) her as a Rockefeller Republican, a typical northeastern Republican. She's not particularly ideological, and she's not socially conservative," so probably an Olympia Snowe-type.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Nothing different.

Depends on just how moderate (or dare I say liberal) the interim placeholder that Lynch appoints might be.

Who are the potential picks?

Looks like he actually named the pick, Bonnie Newman, before Gregg withdrew from cabinet consideration. The article "describe(s) her as a Rockefeller Republican, a typical northeastern Republican. She's not particularly ideological, and she's not socially conservative," so probably an Olympia Snowe-type.

What butterflies would ensue from her selection?

[brucejoel99]

Nothing different.

Depends on just how moderate (or dare I say liberal) the interim placeholder that Lynch appoints might be.

Who are the potential picks?

Looks like he actually named the pick, Bonnie Newman, before Gregg withdrew from cabinet consideration. The article "describe(s) her as a Rockefeller Republican, a typical northeastern Republican. She's not particularly ideological, and she's not socially conservative," so probably an Olympia Snowe-type.

What butterflies would ensue from her selection?

Not much, I'd presume. If by chance she votes for Obamacare, it can be called "bipartisan" health care reform.