Senate Candidate Meets with Iraqi Leaders

A former state Senator who is now seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in November took a brief timeout from campaigning to talk about the American political process with visiting Iraqi leaders on March 10, in Concord.

The program, part of the U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Program, brings foreign citizens to this country to meet with officials and activists, in an effort to learn about the American political process. In turn, the activists here also get to learn about the processes overseas. 

The group, according to a press statement, consisted of Iraqi candidates and potential candidates. Rubens and the Iraqis visiting discussed “the ins-and-outs of American style campaigning, in comparison to traditional form in Iraq,” as well as other aspects of both political processes.

During a question and answer period, all involved discussed voter outreach, policy decisions, messaging to voters, and the obstacles that campaigning often brings in both political systems.

Ruben said he was “honored” to have been invited to participate in the conversation.

"It was great to share with the Iraqi leaders an American perspective on political campaigns as well as learn from them the impact of American wars in Iraq,” he said in a statement. “I ended up learning a lot from the conversation as well. The conversations were extremely frank, including discussions about different forms of political corruption."

Rubens, who has been active in the effort to keep expanded gambling from coming to New Hampshire, is one of four Republican candidates who have announced they will challenge Shaheen this year.

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, R-NH, announced last week that he would be running to win back his former Senate seat. Karen Testerman, the former executive director of Cornerstone Action who also ran for governor in 2010, is also seeking the nomination. Andy Martin, the executive editor of ContrarianCommentary.com, has also stated that he will run for the nomination.

Speculation has been swirling both locally and nationally about former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown staging a potential comeback here in New Hampshire but so far, no dice.