Ex-Rep. Bass Measures 2010 Bid

Former Republican Rep. Charlie Bass has initiated a preliminary bid to reclaim the New Hampshire seat he held for a dozen years but lost in the 2006 election.

Bass' formation of a 2010 "exploratory" committee -- which usually is the precursor to a full-scale campaign -- will gratify national Republican Party recruiters who are trying to capture some Democratic-held seats and cut into the rival party's House majority in the upcoming midterm elections.

Bass announced his committee's launch Wednesday that in New Hampshire's 2nd District, which includes Nashua and the state capital of Concord. Bass, a center-right Republican, represented the district from 1995 through his defeat by Democrat Paul W. Hodes in the strongly Democratic year of 2006. Hodes has left the House seat open for 2010 in order to bid for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Republican Judd Gregg.

"This is a historic time in America. Our nation is at a crossroads, and the 2010 elections will be critically important to our country's future," Bass said in a statement. "I look forward to talking with voters all across the state in the weeks and months ahead about how I can best serve the people of New Hampshire and most effectively advocate on their behalf should I decide to run."

In seeking to reclaim his former House seat, Bass is anticipating that the 2010 election cycle in New Hampshire will be friendlier to Republicans than the 2006 and 2008 cycles. Democrats made sweeping gains in the state and across the nation in those elections, which were influenced by the sharp dropoff in President George W. Bush's popularity.

Bass' announcement was described as "welcome news" by Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's campaign arm. Mazzola, in a statement, said, "Bass' entrance into this race is a game-changer that puts this seat much more in play."

Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, issued a statement of his own that said voters "already rejected Charlie Bass' record and his commitment to the reckless policies of George W. Bush. He shouldn't expect 2010 to be any different."

During his congressional service, Bass had an image as a GOP centrist. He supported tax cuts and fiscal restraint and occasionally broke with his party on some social and environmental issues. He's been active in the Republican Main Street Partnership, which promotes a moderate tack for the party. He will not start from scratch at fundraising, as he had about $37,000 in leftover cash sitting in his still-open House campaign account at the end of June.

Yet Bass, despite his political history and name ID in the district, will likely draw some opposition for the Republican primary next September.

The Republicans will need a strong candidate to compete in the 2nd, which has taken on a Democratic coloration in recent elections. Voters in the district backed Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain by 56 percent to 43 percent in the 2008 presidential balloting.

Democrats seeking the seat include Ann McLane Kuster, a lawyer and lobbyist, and John DeJoie, a state representative.

CQ Politics had rated the race as Democrat Favored, but that rating almost certainly will be changed in light of Bass' pending candidacy.