Smith Supporters Hurting Sununu's N.H. Chances

Rep. John Sununu (R-N.H.) faces two formidable opponents in his Senate race. First, he's running against popular Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D). More interestingly, Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.) is getting a measure of revenge for Sununu's victory over him in September's primary.

It's not just that Smith is doing absolutely nothing to help Sununu. Smith's grassroots network is also working to stick it to Sununu and the GOP establishment.

Boston Globe columnist Thomas Oliphant explains:

Someone must have told Junior that if Smith got rolled in the primary he would submit meekly, perhaps take a patronage job and get with the program. That someone was wrong.

Last week, Smith was in San Francisco rooting for the Giants in the World Series. He had nothing political scheduled over the weekend. He has nothing political scheduled next week, when President Bush may make one final attempt to gin up turnout for Junior. And that is only the tip of an unusual, typically New Hampshire iceberg. In addition to Smith's deft distance from the Junior juggernaut (he ''endorsed'' Sununu and then took a powder), there are three, separate operations underway to promote a write-in effort on Smith's behalf.

These are not committees that exist only on letterheads. They have raised money, put up signs, bought advertisements, and made a case that the cabal promoting Sununu should not be rewarded. Their efforts are not being taken lightly by the establishment.