GOP Senator Judd Gregg is being considered by an Obama administration for the Secretary of Commerce post — recently vacated by scandal-ridden NM Governor Bill Richardson who is being investigated by a grand jury for awarding state contracts to political donors. (Just one in a line of scandal-prone appointments by Obama, but don’t worry. Nothing to see here.)
I’ve got to say, this is actually a stroke of political genius if Obama extends the final offer and Gregg accepts. It accomplishes so many things in one fell swoop, it’s almost as if the stars had aligned for this very selection for Barack:
I hope Gregg decides to put party before personal ambition, but I doubt he will – he’s facing a very tough re-election fight that he is in no way guaranteed to win. If I were him, I might accept the sure thing over the very risky gamble as well. Here’s hoping it doesn’t happen, though… for America’s sake.
January 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Oh, no. Good luck Mr. Coleman.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Well maybe this is the seat Mitt Romney should run for in 2010 if gregg leaves the job instead of a possible utah senate seat if that opens up. Or maybe obama could really play politics and inform the current gov of new hamp he should appoint a repub (romney) to fill the repub seat held by gregg and gain some bipartisan good will for that action…yet the string attached to the offer for romney would be he would run for re-election in 2010 and not the white house in 2012, thus obama gets rid of a possible GOP opponent.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:07 am
gregg should publicly request a repub fill his seat before accepting, as the condition of him joining. put in on obama to prove that this is a blatant move for 60.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Gregg could very easily put party first here. He has so much money that if he doesn’t win re-election in 2010 (I put him and Bunning in the very likely to lose category) he’ll be more than set for the rest of his life.
There is no guarantee John Lynch will appoint a Democrat, though. Lynch is utterly moderate and if he plans to run again in 2010 he might appoint a Repub and, basically, guarantee his reelection once again based on the fact he “put politics aside” in appointing Gregg’s successor. The GOP base in NH is sorely lacking so it would be interesting to see who Lynch might choose if he were to choose a GOPer. But, appointing a Dem would be a hot, contentious affair as both Congresspeople were planning on running against Gregg in 2010, anyways, so whichever one wasn’t chosen would be pissed and above all else, Lynch hates to make people mad – the man has NO spine.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Party should never come first.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Way too much is made of a party getting 60 votes. Even when votes are on a party line there’s generally defections from either side. Which means all one needs to have absolute control of the Senate is 60 give or take a few – we’re already at that.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
eric,
Party should never come before personal ambition? What?!?
Country before party, party before personal ambition. Should be pretty easy.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Ok, a cursory analysis here Matt:
1)Bill Richardson is one of the most honorable and capable governors out there. Trashing him makes you look like a fool.
2)Maybe Gregg feels that accepting such a position would indeed be putting country over party.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
i think matts point was that richardson was involved in a scandal and the media totally passed over it, if it had been a republican they would have freaked out.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
joe (#9), exactly.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Obama effectively has 60 seats anyway, given the number of moderate GOPers who can be relied on occasionally (e.g. Snowe & Collins) So I think I agree with 538 that actually this might be good for the GOP. If Obama has 60 Senators and things go badly, he can’t blame the GOP for obstructionism (“vote for Dems as the nasty GOP blocked my efforts to get things done”)
January 30th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Allow me to do a Gamecock here and say that I predicted the result – in order!
More importantly this is a good result for our party.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Sorry wrong thread.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Why would anyone resign a senate seat for a second-tier cabinet slot like Commerce? State, AG, Defense — yes. Commerce, Interior, etc — I don’t see it.