N.H. sends Shaheen to U.S. Senate

New Hampshire

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November 5, 2008

By James A. Kimble

MANCHESTER — Jeanne Shaheen made quick work of toppling Republican incumbent John Sununu, ousting the first-term senator, who previously served in the House.

Shaheen and her supporters at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester last night said the win was part of a resounding message that Americans craved change that would swiftly address job growth and the woes of the American economy.

"I am glad to have been New Hampshire's first woman governor and I am so honored that tonight you have chosen me as your first woman senator," Shaheen told a crowd of Democratic supporters last night. "I ran to be an advocate for change, for all the people across New Hampshire who have struggled for the past eight years."

With just under 50 percent of the votes tallied last night, Shaheen had a 53 percent to 44 percent lead over Sununu.

Shaheen's win builds upon a Democratic majority in the Senate in a race widely followed around the country.

Shaheen didn't fare well in Rockingham County, a Republican stronghold. She came close to Sununu in Derry, where he beat her 1,297 to 1,279.

Sununu made his concession speech around 8:45 p.m., surprising even Democrats gathered to celebrate Shaheen's victory.

"I was a bit taken aback to see Sen. Sununu concede so early, but that's called politics," said Mark Oswald of Londonderry.

He chalked up Shaheen's win to her tenure as governor, which included reaching across party lines to work with a largely Republican House.

Hundreds of people flooded the ballroom for Shaheen's victory speech with deafening chants that overpowered the newly elected senator's comments.

Shaheen pledged to work closely with an Obama White House to restore the faltering American economy, expand health care and wean the country from foreign oil. She also pledged to "end this misguided war in Iraq."

"But make no mistake," she said. "I will never hesitate to disagree with my party or hesitate to do what's right for New Hampshire."

That last comment was something of a parting shot at Sununu, whom she accused of voting with President Bush instead of listening to his constituency. It was one of several bitter exchanges the candidates had during the campaign that made it one of the most fiercely contested in the state.

Shaheen also took time to single out individuals she believed were symbols of her campaign message. She mentioned an out-of-work Salem father, whom she only identified as Frank, who donated $100, cutting back on his family's groceries for three weeks so he could donate to her campaign.

"He said he felt the middle class had been abandoned," Shaheen said.

Sen. Lou D'Allessandro, D-Manchester, said Democrats across the country were able to seize upon the economy as a vital issue to voters more than their Republican counterparts.

"Things like that happen and you either take advantage of it or you don't," he said. "That's where we really excelled."