Gregg’s Fundraising Letter for Ayotte

As many of you may have seen Adam Krauss of Fosters has recently launched his own foray into the New Hampshire blogospshere with a blog called Soundings hosted at Fosters.com.  He managed to post the fundraising letter that Sen. Judd Gregg sent to his donors in support of former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, complete with some of his thoughts on the letter and reaction from the NHGOP on how the state party is handling primary endorsements by statewide leaders.

First some take aways from the letter:

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As I conclude my service to the people of New Hampshire, I intend to continue to promote an alternative to these big government approaches, to drive fiscal responsibility and blunt the expansion of the federal government. But, it is clear that this effort will need to be carried on after 2010 and the next election.

It is critical that New Hampshire send a strong, conservative and effective individual to the United States Senate in 2011.

Fortunately we have such a candidate in Kelly Ayotte.
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Kelly’s story is a true New Hampshire one. Raised in Nashua, she is now the mother of two wonderful children with her husband Joe, who runs his own landscaping and snow-blowing business and serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard. Joe flew missions in Bosnia and in Iraq, and together they have shown an unwavering commitment to our State and our country.
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The rest of the letter offered a little more on Ayotte’s biography and accomplishments as well as the requisite ask for a generous donation to her campaign as well.  As Krauss correctly notes, Sen. Gregg has long been one of the most popular members of the Congressional delegation and is seen by many as New Hampshire’s senior statesmen having served the state since the 1970’s.  It is one comment that he makes that should raise some eyebrows and is playing into the theroy by some in the chattering class that Team Ayotte has been a campaign run largely from inside the Beltway.

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And don’t state Republicans want folks in D.C. to stay out of the race, hence why GOP Chairman John H. Sununu let people know “New Hampshire doesn’t look kindly at external meddling.”

Granted, Gregg’s home is here in the Granite State. But perhaps his support is an example of that “external meddling”?

So, now having an instate Senator, who as I mentioned earlier, has been representing the Granite State both in New Hampshire and Washington, for over 30 years, is an example of “external meddling”?  I have a feeling that many will disagree with that statement.  Granted, he most likely used his influence with his colleagues to make the case for why his colleagues should support her.  But isn’t that his job to be able to influence his fellow Senators, be it on legislation or for causes and candidates that he supports?  Regardless of who he’s supporting that’s his right as a political leader and a New Hampshire Republican.

Ryan Williams with the NHGOP summed it up best in response to Krauss’ comments.

“Just like any other New Hampshire political leader, Senator Gregg has the right to support any candidate that he chooses,” he said in an emailed comment. “It’s his decision to make.”

So is there something to Sen. Gregg being an “outside influence” or is that simply a media creation?  Do you agree with Sen. Gregg offering his endorsement this early in the process?  Is this whole outside influence storyline that has been on and off the radar screen of the state’s chattering class for the past few months now even an issue?