Bill Shaheen's Obama comment is not likely to have much impact on wife's US Senate race

Wednesday morning, Bill Shaheen was well known in New Hampshire as a Democratic Party power broker; the ultimate insider. By Wednesday night the nation was beginning to know him as simply the "the guy who said that thing about Barack Obama and drugs".

That's because Shaheen, a Hillary Clinton backer, told the Washington Post that if Obama became the Democratic presidential nominee Republicans would have a field day with his admitted drug use 20 years ago.

"It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?' " Shaheen told the Post. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."

But even after his apology last night and his subsequent resignation as the state co-chair to Hillary Clinton's campaign today the story isn't exactly over for Shaheen. He is, afterall, married to former Governor Jeanne Shaheen and she is running in a very competitive US Senate race.

On Thursday it was too early to tell what impact, if any, it will have on his wife's campaign. There was word of one Obama backer who is withholding a planned campaign donation to Shaheen's Senate race. But one person is not a trend and the donation could come later.

State Senator Peter Burling, a Cornish Democrat, was packing his bags Thursday for a trip to Iowa where he will help John Edwards over the weekend. Burling has known the Shaheens for years and he was among the first people to urge Jeanne to enter the US Senate race last summer.

Burling said Billy's comment won't have a lot of impact on the Senate race.

"[Bill and Jeanne Shaheen] are different political figures and they more accurately viewed as two individuals than as a lock-step couple in political decisions," said Burling. "Bill's mistake on this particular issue will be forgotten, but at some point Bill may have to tell some people that he is sorry about it."

For the moment Shaheen faces a largely unknown and poorly financed primary opponent before she hopes to take on freshman US Senator John E. Sununu, who defeated her in 2002. The last few polls give her the lead against Sununu.

Dante Scala, a University of New Hampshire political scientist, said he didn't believe Billy's comment will have a lasting impact on Shaheen's power.

"Clearly if Shaheen wins the US Senate race she will be even more powerful that she has ever been," Scala said.