Hide Transcript Show Transcript

ADAM SEXTON TAKES A LOOK AT THE UPHILL BATTLE FACING THIS DECORATED VETERAN. >> I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT POLITICS. [APPLAUSE] ADAM: RETIRED ARMY GENERAL DON BOLDUC WAS AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN THE WAR ON TERROR, ONE OF THE TROOPS INTO AFGHANISTAN SO EARLY HE RODE ON HORSEBAC NOW HE HAS HIS SIGHTS SET ON THE U.S. SENATE. >> THIS IS NOT A SITUATION I ENVISIONED MYSELF IN AT THIS TIME. I AM ANYTHING BUT A POLITICIAN, BUT LIKE MANY AMERICANS TODAY I AM TICKED OFF BY THE PARTISAN MINDSET ON DISPLAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ADAM: BOLDUC SAYS HE SUPPORTS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, BUT IF ELECTED WOULDN’T BE A RUBBER STAMP. >> I’M GOING TO TELL YOU, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WISH HE HADN’T SAID SOME THINGS THAT HE SAID, AND I’M NOT ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER AMERICAN THAT LISTENS TO THAT. SO THAT IS WHERE I STAND. ADAM: FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER BILL O’BRIEN IS ALSO EXPECTED TO GET INTO THIS RACE, AND THE CONSERVATIVE FIREBRAND WHO SHOOK UP CONCORD HAS BEEN PITCHING HIMSELF AS A KIND OF TRUMP BEFORE TRUMP. IT’S A POTENTIAL POINT OF CONTRAST THAT’S BEEN IMPORTANT IN OTHER REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT BOLDUC DOES HAVE SOME STRONG TRUMP SUPPORTERS IN HIS CAMP. >> I THINK WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO SEE IS THEY’RE GOING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE. WHERE BILL O’BRIEN, WHO I RESPECT, BUT I THINK THEY’RE ALSO GOING TO SEE WHAT GENERAL BOLDUC BRINGS TO THE TABLE. ADAM: THIS PRIMARY WILL BE A BATTLE FOR CONSERVATIVE HEARTS AND MINDS, BUT THE GENERAL ELECTION WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. >> JEANNE SHAHEEN IS -- DEMOCRATS CONSIDER HER LEGENDARY. AND WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH HER OR NOT SHE’S BEEN AROUND FOR A , LONG TIME AND SHE HAS A LOT OF GOODWILL IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. ADAM: IN A STATEMENT, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRAT

Advertisement Bolduc, announcing US Senate run, calls Shaheen ‘part of failed leadership in Congress’ Retired US Army Brigadier General first Republican to challenge Shaheen Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Stressing his military service and deep roots in New Hampshire, retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc of Stratham formally announced his 2020 candidacy for the U.S. Senate on Monday, saying, “After 33 years in the Army, I don’t give a damn about politics.”Bolduc, 57, making his first run for elected office after a long military career and work in advocacy for veterans, told about 200 people at V.F.W. Post 1631 in Concord that as military officer, “I am trained to get the job done.”Bolduc is the first of several Republicans who are expected to run for the party nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in her bid for a third term in November 2020.WMUR reported Friday that former New Hampshire House Speaker William O'Brien plans to announce his candidacy on July 23, and we have also reported that attorney Bryant Messner of Woleboro is seriously considering running.Bolduc, surrounded by family members, veterans and Republican activists, blasted “politics and failed leadership in Washington.“This is not a situation I envisioned myself in at this time," he said. "I am anything but a politician, but like many Americans today, I am ticked off by the partisan mindset on display in Washington, D.C.“A politics-first attitude that is blocking effective solutions to some real-life issues that affect each of us and our families, and that must stop.”He mentioned Shaheen once in his nearly hour-long announcement, which was delivered from both behind and in front of a podium next to "Bolduc 2020" campaign signs.“I want everyone to understand that I respect Sen. Jeanne Shaheen for her decades in the political arena,” Bolduc said. “But she has been part of the failed leadership in Congress, and it’s time for a change.”Bolduc later told WMUR in an interview that he supports President Donald Trump and wants him to be successful, while predicting there will be times that he does not agree with the president.“That’s all about effective leadership, and I will do that. I will not back down. My interests will be the interests of the people of New Hampshire,” he said.“Setting aside the fact that I agree with the president on issues of economy, national security and the health and welfare of Americans, and his approach there, yes, I’m going to tell you that there were times that I wish he hadn’t said some things that he said.“And I’m not any different than any other American who listens to that.”Bolduc, asked about the potential challenge facing him if he wins the expected primary and faces Shaheen, a popular two-term incumbent senator and former three-term governor, said:“There’s no question that she’s popular. There’s no question that she served this state admirably, but I’m going to run a hard, fair campaign from the bottom up, grassroots. My message resonates of change in Washington, D.C. because our leadership is ineffective."He asked, “(Do) we want another six years of not getting anything done?”Bolduc also told WMUR that he is pro-life on abortion and favors abortion only in cases of “rape, incest and the health of the mother.”After the announcement event, Bolduc made his first attempt at retail, person-to-person campaigning by meeting voters at Chez Vachon restaurant in Manchester. Sources said he spent much of the rest of the day on the telephone to key New Hampshire and national Republicans.On Tuesday, he will have the first event organized by his campaign -- an addiction and recovery roundtable at Pritts Recovery Center in Salem. Helping Bolduc on a volunteer basis – at least for now – are GOP strategists Matt Mowers and Josh McElveen.Mowers, a former high-ranking U.S. State Department official, former aide to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New Hampshire Republican Party executive director, said Bolduc is an “authentic American hero. His personal story of selfless sacrifice for the country can relate to the Granite State in a really significant way.”“You’ve seen a history in New Hampshire politics of really respecting veterans and veterans who have run for office, and I expect that will mean a lot.”In 2014, Shaheen raised and spent about $16 million in her successful campaign for reelection over Republican Scott Brown, and in 2016, current U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan raised and spent $18 million in defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Ayotte.Based on those totals, Shaheen may end up raising more than $20 million for her reelection bid and outside pro-Democratic groups can be expected to pour in tens of millions more. Three years ago, combined spending by outside groups on behalf of Hassan and Ayotte approached $100 million.Mowers said that if Bolduc is the GOP nominee, fundraising by Bolduc’s campaign and outside spending on his behalf by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and pro-GOP groups will be strong.“If you look at the Senate map for next year, there are only a few places for the Republican Party to go on offense, and New Hampshire is one of them,” Mowers said. “I expect you’re going to see a lot of enthusiasm from the party both here in New Hampshire and across the country.”Mowers also predicted Bolduc will win the GOP primary.“The general today staked out some positions. He’s well in line with the Republican Party in New Hampshire. And people are going to realize real fast that he’s the only one who can actually beat Jeanne Shaheen,” Mowers said.Bolduc's at times during his speech departed from his prepared text and spoke off-the-cuff.He said that on Sunday night, “I spent as much time as I could enjoying a cheeseburger with all the American fixings – tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mustard, catsup, mayonnaise – the whole nine yards. And French fries.”He said he also watched the movie, “Miracle on Ice,” the story of the historic 1980 U.S. Olympic Gold Medal hockey team, with his wife and friends.“That is a movie that inspires.”Bolduc, a Laconia native, said he worked on his grandfather’s farm and then fulfilled his grandfather’s requirement that he and his siblings and cousins serve in the military. “Service in our family and appreciation for what you are given comes with an understanding that you will give back,” he said.Bolduc said that during his military career, he “served in at least three quarters of the countries of the world.”“I never forgot my Granite State roots,” he said. “New Hampshire has always been my home.”He said members of Congress have “a politics-first attitude that is blocking effective solutions to some real-life issues that affect each of us and our families, and that must stop.”Bolduc said that “politics and failed leadership in Congress” interfered with solutions for the opioid crisis, securing the border, improving national security and issues facing veterans.“We owe it to our veterans to give them a full-service VA medical center. They have earned it,” Bolduc said, calling veterans the true “one percenters.”He called for addressing health care, prescription drug prices and a student loan debt burden “that is soaring to levels that could put a recession-sized dent into the economy and put higher education further out of the reach of those who are willing to earn it.”Bolduc said he realized he may be criticized for a lack of political experience.“If you don’t think that I’ve had it rough in life, that I’ve had to survive in environments and areas with men and women to my left and right, in the hardest, most difficult places in this world, under some of the most difficult conditions -- if you don’t think that’s not experience on how to do the right thing, how to get things done and how to lead from the front, then you’re sadly mistaken,” he said.While criticizing Shaheen, Bolduc promised to focus on the issues and predicted that he will be a target."One thing I will not do is engage in the politics of personal destruction," he said. "I am a fair and respectful man. I will not go down that road.“Others will attack me. They’ll spend millions trying to figure out every which way they can out me. Fine. Because that means their backs are up against the wall.” Among the Republicans watching Bolduc’s announcement was New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Steve Stepanek, who made it clear that with a primary likely, neither he nor the party will endorse any Republican.But Stepanek said in a statement, “Gen. Bolduc’s life of service and sacrifice, and his work combating post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans is highly commendable.“We are excited to have someone of the general’s caliber running in this race. All Republican campaigns that enter or consider running must unite on one common goal: replacing Jeanne Shaheen. She has not stood for New Hampshire on many issues and Granite Staters are looking for true leadership in the Senate. We look forward to supporting the eventual nominee and working hard to replace Jeanne Shaheen in 2020.”New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley said, "There is going to be an intense Republican primary between three candidates who would rubber-stamp Donald Trump's agenda to end health care for tens of thousands of Granite Staters and rip away protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.“None of them can be counted on to stand up for New Hampshire. In sharp contrast, Granite Staters know and trust Jeanne Shaheen because she has a consistent record of putting New Hampshire first."Earlier Monday, Bolduc launched his campaign with a video describing his military record.In the video, Bolduc is introduced via news clips of his mission in Afghanistan shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He led one of the first Special Forces teams into Afghanistan to fight the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, riding on horseback to secure the southern region of that country. He also commanded Special Forces in Africa and during his career received numerous awards, including five Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and an Army commendation medal.“Political leaders forgot that they are actually representing people when they go to Washington, D.C.,” he says. "And what they're doing is putting themselves first." View the video here and below.