Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith is ready to start a new campaign for his old seat in New Hampshire.
Smith plans to formally declare his candidacy March 4 in Concord. Other Republicans competing for a chance to unseat Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen include former state Sen. Jim Rubens and conservative activist Karen Testerman.
Smith who recently moved back to the state from Florida, served two terms in the Senate before losing the 2002 primary to John E. Sununu, who went on to win the election. In 1999, Smith ran for president, dropped out of the Republican party, became an independent, ended his presidential campaign and returned to the GOP.
In 2004, Smith endorsed Democrat John Kerry for president and briefly ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida.