GOP Desperate to Keep Gregg in Senate

Sources say Lynch would appoint interim GOP member

(NEWSER) - Republicans say they have a deal in place to make sure that if Barack Obama picks Judd Gregg to head the Commerce Department, they won't lose that 41st seat they need to mount a filibuster. Officials expect New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch to pick his former chief of staff Bonnie Newman—a veteran of the Reagan administration—to replace Gregg, the Union-Leader reports. More»

Tapping NH's Gregg could give Democrats 60 seats in Senate

(NEWSER) - Democrats may get their 60-seat Senate majority after all. President Obama is considering New Hampshire Republican Judd Gregg for the Commerce Secretary post Bill Richardson declined, sources tell Politico. New Hampshire’s Democratic governor would then get to appoint Gregg’s successor. Asked if he’d been offered the job, Gregg replied, “I am not at liberty to discuss that.” More»

Commerce nom tried to get rid of agency, but is bridge to big business

(NEWSER) - Judd Gregg is a fairly bizarre choice for commerce secretary, Pete Engardio writes in BusinessWeek, considering the Republican senator once called for the elimination of the Commerce Department. Gregg is a true fiscal conservative, who’s voted against bills to tighten emission standards, raise taxes on gas producers, and negotiate lower drug prices for Medicare. In other words, the ideological gap is wide. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama—now 0 for 2 on commerce nominations—said Judd Gregg's decision to back out today came as a "something of a surprise," the State Journal-Register of Springfield reports. "The truth, you know, Mr. Gregg approached us with interest and seemed enthusiastic," said Obama. The Republican senator told Politico he felt he "couldn't be Judd Gregg" as commerce chief because of "irresolvable" differences in philosophy with the president. More»

NH governor will name new GOP senator

(NEWSER) - New Hampshire GOP Sen. Judd Gregg is accepting the post of commerce secretary, reports CNN. The state's Democratic governor has agreed to name another Republican to replace Gregg in the Senate, leaving the balance of power unchanged. If that deal hadn't been struck, Gregg would have turned down the commerce job. More»