New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, recently announced her bid for Republican U.S. Senator Bob Smith's position in what is predicted to be one of this November's closest and most contested races.
Shaheen, the sole candidate for the Democratic nomination, declared her senatorial aspirations Feb. 6 in the Executive Council chambers of the statehouse.
The New Hampshire governor is also an ex-officio member of the College's Board of Trustees.
She is opposed by Smith, now in his sixth year as senator, and Republican U.S. Representative John E. Sununu of New Hampshire's First District.
On who will surface as Shaheen's ultimate opponent, campaign communications director Melissa Merz said, "That's up for the Republicans to decide -- she's not thinking about that right now."
"Right now," she added, the third-term governor "is as always, just focused on New Hampshire."
Shaheen's key issues on her gubernatorial agenda have included prescription drug affordability, education and the betterment of the environment.
"These are issues she's working on as governor," Merz said. "There will be plenty of time to campaign later."
According to Merz, Shaheen has entered the race because "some things can't be improved here in New Hampshire until they're changed in Washington. The bottom line is that some issues need to be addressed on the federal level. She wants to continue her work that she's begun in New Hampshire."
Smith's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was not surprised by last Wednesday's announcement, as Shaheen had formed an exploratory committee to gauge public support several months before.
"Governor Shaheen is a classic tax-and-spend liberal," Lewan-dowski said. "If you like higher taxes, that's who you want in the Senate. Ultimately, Smith is less for government regulation."
He added that Smith views the governor as "a very formidable opponent."
"It's a classic example of two people who come from opposite ends of the spectrum," Lewandowski said. "Voters have a very clear choice in this election."
In the most recent polling data examined by Lewandowski, Smith maintained a sizable lead over Shaheen in a hypothetical race between the two candidates.
Polls predict Sununu as the winner in a race between the representative and Shaheen, but only by a marginal factor.
"On education, taxes and the budget, Jeanne Shaheen has failed to provide any leadership. I have long said that New Hampshire would be well served by her return to the private sector, and her entry into this race is an encouraging step in that direction," Sununu said through a spokesperson.
While Smith spent this weekend campaigning in various locations throughout the state, Lewandowski said that the senator "is actually spending the vast majority of his time working on the war on terrorism."
The incumbent senator is a senior-ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.
