Reply #14: Don't be so certain we'd get that 60th seat

[SoxFan]

John Lynch has a history of playing footsie with the old-school Establishment/Chamber of Commerce Republicans, the ones who drive Beemers, not pick-ups. He has endorsed Republicans over highly qualified and credible Democrats in the past. I think that he would buckle and appoint someone like former Gov. Walter Peterson, business lobbyist Brad Cook, Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, or someone of that ilk.

There are good Democratic possibilities, but Lynch would never appoint Carol Shea-Porter (he backed her primary opponent in 2006, and the two camps are not close). Paul Hodes would offend his GOP buddies, since Hodes would then be a prohibitive favorite to hold the seat. There are good placeholders in the Dem ranks, like George Bruno (ex ambassador to Belize, consultant to NATO's partnership For peace program), Paul McEachern (state rep, ex legal counsel to Gov. Gallen, ex bar association president), and John Huston (retired naval officer, dean of Franklin Pierce Law School, key Obama surrogate).