Campaign for America's Future ignites Social Security debate in New Hampshire Senate race

CAF puts Sununu on the run in New Hampshire, using TV ads and policy analysis of Sununu's pro-privatization record.

The Campaign for America's Future had a dramatic impact on a number of key House and Senate races in the 2002 election cycle by focusing public attention on candidates' positions about Social Security privatization.

In New Hampshire, we ran a TV ad arguing that Senate candidate John Sununu was "hiding something" about his position on Social Security. Sununu, at the time, claimed that he "opposed privatization."

We followed the TV ad with a press conference to highlight Sununu's record on privatization, including a policy report about legislation that Sununu co-sponsored calling for mandatory private investment of Social Security.

Sununu first denied that he supported mandatory privatization, even though his bill specifically proposed it. Then he claimed that he had only introduced it to "spur debate" and that it "wasn't perfect." Then he claimed that he opposed any private accounts plan that would affect benefits for anyone retiring "in the next 20 years."

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESULTS

• Sununu TV ad: 1) Realplayer format and 2) script
  
• Research on Sununu's record on Social Security
  
• Policy report on Sununu's legislation for mandatory privatization
  
• Press release for press conference on TV ads, policy report
  
• Press clips from our press conference:

Manchester Union Leader: Sununu co-sponsored privatization bill
Associated Press: Sununu co-sponsored Social Security privatization bill
Concord Monitor: Privatization by any other name&
Nashua Telegraph: Sununu co-wrote Social Security proposal
WMUR: Sununu says he filed bill to spur debate
ABCNews.com: Guaranteed minimum clarity
Reuters: Issues fuel key New Hampshire race for Senate