Oh so unsurprising:
Gov. John Lynch (D-NH) indicated today he’ll appoint a Republican to replace Sen. Judd Gregg if Obama nominates the New Hampshire senator to be Secretary of Commerce. In a statement, Lynch said that Gregg made it clear that he would not resign the seat if it would tip the balance in the Senate, and that Lynch believes that the president ought to have the advisers he wants.
“I have had conversations with Senator Gregg, the White House and U.S. Senate leadership. Senator Gregg has said he would not resign his seat in the U.S. Senate if it changed the balance in the Senate. Based on my discussions, it is clear the White House and Senate leadership understand this as well,” Lynch said.
“If President Obama does nominate Senator Gregg to serve as Commerce Secretary, I will name a replacement who will put the people of New Hampshire first and represent New Hampshire effectively in the U.S. Senate,” he said.
Let’s just hope that he picks someone who’ll leave a clean table for 2010 — but I wouldn’t put it past Lynch to screw us.
it’s impossible to tell from his statement:
a really liberal Republican who will support Obama’s stimulus package.
Obama will pikc Gregg tomorrow. Per Mark Halperin http://thepage.time.com/2009/0…
I fear this deal will backfire on the Dems in the end.