As Republicans look to flip the U.S. Senate in November, they can be excused if they ponder the political career of 19th century Daniel Webster as two former U.S. senators -- one with major ties to Florida -- look at returning to the Senate in New Hampshire.
The Godlike Daniel was one of the leading American politicians of the first half of the 19th century. Along with sometime rivals and sometime allies John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay, Webster formed the Great Triumvirate which opposed Andrew Jackson and dominated the Senate for decades. Webster spent most of his political career in Massachusetts but he started as a congressman from New Hampshire.
Republicans will certainly have their pick-up opportunities in the Senate come November with Democrats facing tough battles to defend seats in Arkansas, Louisiana, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. Defeating U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., is more of a long shot, but two former members of the Senate are in the mix for the Republican nomination.
After serving in both chambers of the Massachusetts General Court, the Bay States Legislature, Scott Brown burst onto the national political scene in early 2010, defeating Democrat Martha Coakley in a major upset for the U.S. Senate seat held for decades by Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. Despite being heralded as the first politician to ride the tea party movement to victory, Brown often disappointed conservatives in Washington. Liberal Democrat Elizabeth Warren defeated Brown in 2012.
But Brown has shown no hints of leaving politics. Brown has popped up in both Iowa and New Hampshire, creating some buzz as a possible presidential candidate in 2016. But taking Shaheen appears to be a better bet. Reversing Websters path, Brown sold his house in Massachusetts at the end of last year and is moving to New Hampshire. Democrats are already running ads bashing Brown as pundits insist, even with his recent move, he represents Republicans best hopes of picking up the seat.
As Brown weighs jumping in, there are some other Republicans already running against Shaheen including former state Sen. Jim Rubens, who ran for governor in 1998, and conservative leader Karen Testerman who ran for governor in 2010. Add to the mix one New Hampshire Republican who wants his old job back--former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H.
Smith became one of the leading conservatives in Washington after winning a congressional seat in 1984. He moved to the Senate in 1990 and kept it in a close battle against Democrat Dick Swett six years later. Despite his near-death political experience in 1996, Smith started running for the Republican presidential nomination.
There was some logic to Smith's presidential bid -- Pat Buchanan had done well in New Hampshire, after all, in 1992 and 1996 -- but it proved to be a disaster. Smith failed to get traction with a host of other conservatives looking to head off George W. Bush from the right. Smith ended up leaving the GOP to run as a third-party candidate before insisting he was running as an independent. When U.S. Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., died, leaving the Environment and Public Works chairmanship open, Smith ended his presidential bid and rejoined the GOP. Despite Smith backing him in 2000, Bush and New Hampshire Republicans werent forgiving and John E. Sununu, whose father served as George H.W. Bushs chief of staff, beat him in the 2002 Republican primary.
Smiths political career since then has been erratic. After losing to Sununu in 2002, Smith moved to Sarasota to work in real estate. When U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., retired in the 2004 election cycle, Smith started running for the Republican nomination. During his time in the Senate, Smith focused on some Florida issues, including protecting the Everglades, veterans issues and protesting returning Elian Gonzalez to communist Cuba. But Smith went nowhere and quickly pulled out as Mel Martinez went on to win. Smith tried again in 2010 but, again, quickly left the race as Marco Rubio won the nomination.
Just as he had during his presidential bid, Smith has spent much of the last decade jabbing the GOP leadership. After Bush helped undermine his Senate chances in 2002, Smith returned the favor in 2004, backing John Kerrys presidential bid. Smith returned to his conservative principles in the 2008 presidential primaries, backing long shot Duncan Hunters bid for the Republican nomination. But, after Hunter pulled out, Smith started becoming active with the Constitution Party, leading to speculation he would be their nominee in the 2008 presidential contest. Smith stayed out of the race and moved back to New Hampshire where he is running for the Senate again.
Shaheen is far from being the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent in the Senate but Republicans think they have a shot at defeating her, especially if Brown enters the contest. Regardless, two former members looking to return to the Senate, especially having been active in other states, is a rarity in American politics.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
