Frank Guinta, the Republican mayor of Manchester, just announced
on a conference call that he would seek Democrat Carol
Shea-Porter's 1st Congressional seat in New Hampshire. This is
likely to be the best chance the GOP has for retaking the seat
once held by Jeb Bradley.
As Real Clear Politics
noted last week:
What makes Guinta's candidacy so enticing is his home field
advantage in the Queen City. Though Manchester is a majority
Democratic city, he won a second term in 2007 by nearly eight
points, and raised record funds in the process. Manchester also
played a key role in Shea-Porter's last win. She carried every
ward last year and took the city by 5,000 votes -- accounting
for 40% of her reelection margin in the 1st Congressional
district. No wonder Republicans hope Guinta's special appeal
for the city's voters could be the X-factor in next year's
House race.
A Guinta campaign adviser said that the greater Manchester area
accounts for 37% of the vote in the House district and Guinta's
popularity and standing in the city will "be a huge advantage."
