John Sununu

A new poll has former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) beating U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) by double-digits.

According to Rasmussen Shaheen leads Sununu 51 percent to 40 percent. In late July the same poll had Shaheen leading Sununu by five points.

An outside group has begun airing a television ad examining the energy record of U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury).

The ad from the American Future Fund is critical of Shaheen's stance on drilling, while telling Granite State residents to tell Sununu to support the Gas Price Reduction Act, an act that Sununu is co-sponsoring.

Keep an eye on Katrina Swett: no one in New Hampshire politics has a greater warchest heading into the 2010 elections.  At the start of the summer, Swett had $937,363 in a campaign account she started to explore a bid for U.S. Senate against John Sununu.  In addition, the campaign of her late father, U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos of California, has $1,280,754 in the bank. While Swett cannot simply transfer that money to her own campaign account, she can use it for purposes that might help her secure political support in the future. 

Both John Sununu and Jeanne Shaheen expect to benefit from significant investment by their respective national senatorial campaign committees. Looking at the other Senate races, there are few other places for the national money to go.

According to Pollster.com, Sununu currently trails Shaheen by a 41 percent to 52 percent margin. An incumbent sitting under 45 percent in the polls might not impress as an especially wise investment. But compare Sununu to the alternatives:

On the one hand, a few Republican incumbents appear to be in fine shape after some initial worries, so the National Republican Senatorial Committee likely will not have to spend much.

For instance ...

LONDONDERRY- The National Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition unveiled their New Hampshire congressional endorsements in a press conference televised live on Londonderry public access television.

The group endorsed U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley), state Sen. Bob Clegg (R-Hudson) and former Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen (R-Manchester), who the group endorsed earlier this summer.

MANCHESTER-- A coalition of organizations gave U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) a birthday cake. The cake though was not for Sununu's birthday. It was to celebrate the beginning of Social Security.

The New Hampshire Alliance for Retired Americans and members of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO stood outside Sununu's senate office to argue that Sununu's voting record on Social Security has been a "disgrace."

A prominent national labor union is sponsoring a thirty-second ad against U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley).

The ad, titled "Higher Cost," is being paid by the SEIU and argues that Sununu voted against lower drug prices after he accepted money from drug companies.

BELMONT -- According to legend the modern term "stump speech" developed during the 19th Century when politicians would give short speeches on a tree stump. New Hampshire political candidates were given the opportunity to revive that tradition in Belmont today, but only Jim Steiner (R-Concord) took to the stump to speak.

"I will take the chance and bare the stump," Steiner said. "If I wear this yellow jacket there's no question that the sun will always shine."

TILTON - Sitting in a small faculty room at a child daycare center Tuesday, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) purposed a five-point plan to help lower the cost of health care costs for small businesses.

Shaheen's plan would provide a tax credit to small businesses that provide health care to employees, lower the cost of prescription drugs, boost preventive care programs, increase the use of electronic medical records and reduce medication errors.

Crystal Dollis, a 25-year-old legislative correspondent for John Sununu, has been named the 7th on the 50 Most Beautiful People of Capitol Hill for 2008 according to The Hill.

Also making the list was another Bedford native, Aaron Gardner a 26-year-old account executive for the DCI group.