Former Sen. Bob Smith to launch NH Senate bid

Former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith (R) is officially launching his campaign for his old Senate seat on Tuesday.

{mosads}He announced late last year his decision to move back from Florida to the Granite State and pursue the seat he lost in 2002.

According to the New Hampshire Union-Leader, Smith is holding a press conference at the state Legislative Office Building on Tuesday to officially announce his candidacy.

The 72-year-old former senator raised eyebrows with his decision, as he’s run twice to represent Florida in the Senate since his 2002 defeat in a GOP primary in New Hampshire.

He previously insisted to The Hill that he’s seeing a surge in support for his bid, and that the money woes that plagued his bids for Senate in Florida wouldn’t be an issue for him in the New Hampshire race.

He joins state Sen. Jim Rubens and political activist Karen Testerman in the GOP primary — but all eyes in the state remain on former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who has indicated he’s interested in running but hasn’t yet announced a decision either way.

Brown, Republicans believe, has the best prospects for taking down Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who Republicans feel is vulnerable due to ObamaCare’s unpopularity in the state.