Former NH GOP Chair to head up Giuliani's NH campaign

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's campaign announced Monday that former New Hampshire Republican Party chair Wayne Semprini will serve as the chairman of Giuliani's Granite State campaign.

Semprini left his role with the party on Saturday when Republicans elected his replacement at their annual convention. As it happened, Giuliani was the only potential presidential candidate to address the convention.

The choice of Semprini to be Giuliani's campaign chair is not all that surprising for close observers of New Hampshire politics. Semprini's son, after all, has been working for Giuliani since the beginning of the year.

What this news means for the Giuliani campaign is unclear. Semprini served as chairman for less than a year and presided over the worst defeat Republicans had seen in the state since 1874.

That said, Semprini is well-liked inside the party, has many personal connections inside the state, and was not blamed for the statewide GOP losses.