Brown Targets Sununu, Sununu Targets Pappas In First GOP Senate Debate In Hampton

By Michael Graham, NH Journal

The two Republicans running for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination showed up at the first debate of the campaign on Wednesday night with two very different targets.

Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu focused most of his fire on the likely Democratic nominee, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, while former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown had Sununu in his crosshairs.

The hourlong debate was hosted by the Seacoast Republicans at the Victoria Inn in Hampton, with questions submitted by local GOP committees in the region.

The event began with a “cameo” by Sununu’s younger brother, former Gov. Chris Sununu, when the moderator tossed a coin to decide who spoke first and declared, “Chris, you won the coin toss,” inspiring groans and laughter from the crowd.

The mood grew tense, however, when Brown began attacking his GOP opponent. His charge: Sununu’s campaign donors and endorsement from President Donald Trump will make him beholden to their interests.

“Follow the money,” Brown repeated throughout the debate.

“Look at John. Respectfully, a nice man, but you know, he’s also indebted to the Senate Leadership Fund, the NRSC, AFP, a whole host of other groups. The only one who’s truly independent and can call balls and strikes is me. That’s why I didn’t get the endorsement (from Trump).”

Sununu’s message was GOP unity.

“We’re a Republican state: Republican governor, House, Senate. Yet we have four Democrats representing us in Washington, and I will tell you, Chris Pappas is the worst.”

“If we’re going to succeed as Republicans this year, we need to make sure we’re not attacking and tearing down other Republicans,” Sununu added. “We need to make sure we keep our focus on the Democrats, our focus on winning in November.”

Brown didn’t take his advice.

“If you’ve taken all that (campaign) money and especially if you’ve gotten all those endorsements, you owe them,” Brown said. “Look at the two candidates and say, who really is the truly independent guy that owes nobody anything except you, and that’s me.”

Sununu fired back.

On endorsements, he noted that he has the support of state GOP leaders like Senate President Sharon Carson and all four Republicans on the Executive Council.

On contributions, Sununu said his campaign has received “lots of support from all over the country, but the fact is nobody’s contribution makes any difference. And for someone to stand up and say, ‘Well, yes, it does,’ that makes me question where they’re coming from.

“To go around accusing others of having that influence is just wrong. It’s just wrong, and it’s not New Hampshire.”

On policy, the two candidates were largely in lockstep: supporting the SAVE Act, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to change the nation’s birthright citizenship law, and identifying China as the greatest global threat to the U.S.

They both said they would have voted for the GOP’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” and called out Pappas for opposing it.

“Voting against that bill was voting for the biggest tax increase in American history, and Chris Pappas did it,” Sununu said.

Brown pointed out the irony of a restaurant owner like Pappas voting against “No Tax on Tips,” a provision of the OBBB.

“Imagine walking into his restaurant and saying, ‘Oh, by the way, I voted against no tax on tips.’”

The issue of boys in girls’ sports and spaces came up, and once again, Sununu used it to go after Pappas, while Brown turned it on a fellow Republican.

“Boys shouldn’t be competing in girls’ sports,” Sununu said. “When it comes to women’s safety, here’s the question I have for Chris Pappas: Why is he supporting Platner in Maine? The things he’s said are degrading to women, abusive to women, and he doesn’t have the courage to stand up and say honestly that the socialist with the Nazi tattoo and the history of denigrating and tearing down women isn’t fit to be in the Senate.”

Brown called out Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

“She vetoed for the third time that particular issue. Allowing men in girls’ and women’s bathrooms? That’s Chris Pappas. It’s not a Republican thing.”

Their one significant policy dispute was over Trump’s decision to take military action against Iran on Feb. 28. Brown said Trump did the right thing by acting against the Islamist regime, while “John and Chris (Pappas) said they wouldn’t move forward with what the president is doing. I disagree respectfully.

“What the president is doing is correct,” Brown said. “He needs to finish the job. But I’m also glad that he gave an olive branch to them to basically either sink or swim.”

Sununu didn’t address Trump’s actions during the debate, but he told WMUR last week he would not have made the same decision.

“If you’re asking me if I would have done this, no,” Sununu said.

The capacity crowd appeared to enjoy the exchange.

“It was very helpful,” said Roberta from Hampton. Her top issue? “Which one is going to beat Chris Pappas.”

“We want to know the candidates and what their positions are,” said Mike Coutu, who attended the debate with his wife, Joanne. She was glad to hear the two Republicans address boys in girls’ sports and spaces.

“It’s such an important issue, and I don’t understand — whether the polling is 80-20 or 90-10, it’s just wrong.”

Asked how optimistic they felt about Republicans breaking the pattern and winning federal races this year, Mike Coutu said, “I feel pretty good. I think Republicans really have a chance to win.”

After the debate, NHJournal asked the two candidates for the one message they wanted GOP primary voters to take away.

“I have the background, experience, and proven record of delivering for New Hampshire that we need in the U.S. Senate,” Sununu said. “For eight years, Chris Pappas has attempted very little and accomplished even less. I’m the Republican who will win in November.”

Brown said his message is “for Republicans and independents. The one thing I want them to know is that I’m the independent guy in this race. Independents are looking for a home, and they know I don’t owe anyone anything.”

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.