New Hampshire Republicans are trying to figure out how to regain their hold on politics as they look toward the 2009 legislative session and a state budget shortfall.
Outgoing Republican State Senator Joe Kenney ran as a fiscal conservative in his unsuccessful bid for governor. Kenney predicted "all the spending is going to come home to roost," and Democrats’ handling of the deficit will determine whether voters stay behind them.
Democrats – put in charge of state government for a consecutive term – face the sobering chore of cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in state spending over the next 32 months to avoid raising taxes.
Milford Senator Peter Bragdon is poised to become the Senate minority leader. Bragdon says Republicans need to try their best to solve the deficit problem and still hold to their principles and show alternatives.