Dems continue to hit Sununu-Stevens connection

Former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's (D-Madbury) campaign says U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) should answer questions about a 2004 fishing trip Sununu took with now-indicted U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

In 2004 Sununu attended the Kenai River Classic with Stevens and an executive from VECO Corporation. Stevens was indicted last week for making illegal statements about campaign donations he received from the Alaska-based oil company.

According to their website the Kenai River Classic is an annual fundraiser for the Kenai River Sportfishing Association, which is headed by Bob Penney, a Stevens friend. The group uses the money to fund programs concentrated on preserving the Kenai river. The Hill reported in 2007 that Stevens helped Penney's group secure $4.5 million in federal funds to study the river's salmon population.

Former New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan said Sununu should disclose information about the trip.

"We need to have questions answered," Sullivan said on a conference call with reporters. "The people of New Hampshire should know who paid for these trips for Sununu to rub elbows with these various lobbyists and how many times did he take these trips."

When asked to comment a Sununu spokesman referred to the statement the campaign released last week stating that the Sununu campaign would donate $10,000 it had received this election cycle from Stevens' Northern Lights PAC.

"Team Sununu will be donating to charity the $10,000 received during this 2008 campaign cycle from Northern Lights PAC. The campaign had previously donated to charity contributions received from VECO employees who pled guilty to wrongdoing," Sununu campaign manager Paul Collins said in last week's statement.

Sullivan said that Sununu should return all the money he has received from Stevens and VECO.

"When it comes to ethics and showing that you have a real concern for ethical issues then what you do is make a check from your campaign organization that is sitting on, as we all know, that is sitting on a lot of money which came from these sources and give it away, give it to charity," she said. "His failure to do so I think shows that he just doesn't get it when it comes to some of these ethical issues."

Earlier today the New Hampshire Democratic Party released a video also criticizing Sununu for keeping money he received from Stevens and VECO.

"John Sununu puts the oil industry ahead of middle class New Hampshire families, and in return he gets dirty money from Ted Stevens and his friends in Big Oil.  By keeping $39,000 in campaign contributions linked to an alleged felon and the oil industry, Sununu is showing his vote has been bought," Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign, said in a press release.

Sununu is a member of the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard subcommittee, as is Stevens.