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However, according to The Hill, Judd Gregg is baulking at helping the Democrats. “Gregg would never allow his seat to go to a Democrat, the only way he would allow it is if he died,” said a Republican close to Gregg. “He would consider it to be a breach of trust to people who elected it.”
This is a situation of deja vu all over again for Gregg, who back in 2000 was being considered for a cabinet post under then President George W. Bush. What is possibly keeping him from accepting it this time around is what kept him from accepting it then: a Democrat governor would appoint a fellow Democrat which would hurt the GOP in the Senate. Then it was a razor-thin GOP margin while today it would help the Democrats get a filibuster-proof majority.
Arizona Senator Jon Kyl hinted on FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace that there was a possible behind-the-scenes deal working to keep the NH Senate seat in the hands of the Republicans. Clever move by Obama, if it works. One question though, why would pick a Senator who has very close ties to former President Bush when he spent an entire campaign criticizing him for just about everything he did?
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Update: More on the possible deal to keep the seat amongst the GOP here...
Update 2: Gregg has indeed been nominated as Commerce Secretary for the Obama Administration.
Update 3: J. Bonnie Newman is the replacement for Judd Gregg.
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