Draft Effort Launched to Get Sanborn to Run for Governor

While all eyes were on the straw poll that showed what everyone already knew – that so-called lower tier Republican New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary candidates Rand Paul and Ted Cruz were very popular with liberty Republicans in the Granite State, another pretty interesting thing happened at the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention: A campaign to draft state Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford, for governor was also started.

Aaron Day of Stark360 announced the effort on Saturday night and followed up with the creation of a Facebook site, saying he hoped to raise $1 million to help Sanborn and other candidates.

In a statement, Day said, “We need principled leadership in Concord. In addition to his Republican Liberty Caucus endorsement, he was the only state senate candidate endorsed by the NHLA. His voting record speaks for itself. The other candidates in this race lack the same consistency. Voters shouldn’t have to depend on Ouija board to know where you candidate is on the issues.”

Sanborn didn’t return a request for comment about a potential gubernatorial race or the draft effort. He joked last week on Twitter that Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield’s solid 74 percent re-election bid was grounds for a potential run by the popular mayor saying that he was “calling it first.”

In 2014, Sanborn considered challenging Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, and was rumored to be seriously considering an effort but bowed out about two years ago last week.

Sanborn, instead, ran for re-election, and fended off another challenge from Democrat Lee Nyquist.

After being re-elected, he was stricken with a stomach illness but continued work in the state Senate, promoting business tax relief, raising concern about the lack of effectiveness of the current drug czar, and keeping a critical eye on the fiscal 2016-2017 state budget.

Other candidates who are officially running for governor include Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, who launched his campaign on Labor Day in Salem, and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern, who announced last week that he would be a candidate for the Democratic nomination. Other possible candidates include state Rep. Frank Edelblut, R-Wilton, and Portsmouth City Councilor Stefany Shaheen.

Caption: State Rep Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, and state Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford, at the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention on Oct. 10, 2015.