WASHINGTON – Trivia question: What state is home to a congressional seat that is coveted by the brother of the president's chief of staff, but is currently occupied by the son of a former president's chief of staff?
Here's a hint: The two presidents in question are father and son.
If you said New Hampshire, you are right.
Brad Card, the brother of President George W. Bush's chief of staff, Andrew Card, is giving "serious consideration" to a run for the 1st Congressional District seat in New Hampshire. The seat is currently held by John Sununu, the son of former President George H.W. Bush's chief of staff, John Sununu.
Sununu is debating whether to abandon the seat in a bid for the Senate and, if he does, Card said he is likely to throw his hat in the ring.
Sununu has no timetable for an announcement, said his press secretary Barbara Riley, but he will make a decision most likely by the end of the year.
Currently, Sununu is traveling around the state this month "listening to what people have to say," Riley said. Riley said Sununu's tour is part of his regular congressional schedule.
Sources in New Hampshire, however, say it is expected he will go for it and leave the congressional seat up for grabs.
New Hampshire Republican state Chairman John Dowd said there are numerous possible candidates for Sununu's seat. "New Hampshire Republicans love primaries. It is wide open," he said.
But Brad Card, a former New Hampshire state trooper, would likely benefit from his brother's fame. Andrew Card is the main draw at a New Hampshire Republican party fundraiser next month.
Competitive Congressional, Senate Races
Democrats say a Sununu run for the Senate augurs well for them in the congressional race. That's because state Rep. Martha Fuller Clark, who lost against Sununu in 2000, plans to make another run for it and has raised a considerable amount of cash.
New Hampshire Democratic Party spokesman Colin Van Ostern likes Clark's chances, saying, "$320,000 is a big start and she's been campaigning ever since, probably about a year ago this time."
If Sununu runs for the Senate, he also faces a primary challenge against two-term Republican Sen. Bob Smith. Smith is considered one of the most vulnerable senators running for re-election next year and a Sununu win could bolster the GOP's chances of keeping the seat.
"If Sununu runs, it's not going to be a gentle primary and it's not going to be cheap," Van Ostern said.
Either contestant will most likely face Democratic Gov. Jean Shaheen, who announced Wednesday that she is forming an exploratory committee to consider a bid for the Senate.
"It's not our job to pick her opponent, but either Smith or Sununu, Gov. Shaheen would be able to beat," Van Ostern said.
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