When Al Gore lost the presidency in 2000 he grew a beard. When Bill Richardson lost the Democratic primary he too grew facial hair. So perhaps it would be expected that our own U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu would show up in the Senate today, after losing re-election, with a goatee.

But just for a moment.

Here is a short list of potential for New Hampshire U.S. Attorney:

John Hutson- Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center

Joe Foster- Former NH State Senator

Philip McLaughlin-Shaheen AG

Paul Twomey-Election law expert

Chris Sullivan-tax lawyer, former advisor to Gov. Lynch

Peter Burling- Former NH State Senator, NH DNC member

Ann McLane Kuster- Attorney at Rath Young Pignatelli

Jim Carroll-Belknap County Attorney

John Kacavas-Manchester lawyer, former state homicide prosecutor

Andru Volinsky-education funding lawyer

Rich Sigel-Gov. Lynch chief-of-staff

Kate Hanna-lawyer with Shaheen Phinney Bass & Gordon

Of course the Senate Republican Caucus eventually voted 10-0 for a new leader. But here was the real vote:

For Bragdon (6 votes):

Downing, Odell, Carson, Denley, Letourneau, Bragdon 

For Gatsas (4 votes):

Roberge, Barnes, Gallus, Gatsas 

The major question entering this election year was whether or not New Hampshire's confusing political identity would become clear tonight.

NBC calls the New Hampshire Senate race says Gov. Jeanne Shaheen won.

The moment polls closed in New Hampshire NBC called the state for Democrat Barack Obama.

So far they are the only network to make the call.

New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen said he will "mourn for years" if U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu isn't re-elected today.

"It is not just because he is a Republican, but personally it will hurt because believe deep down he is the right senator for the state," said Cullen. "In fact, it will be a loss for the nation if he isn't back in the Senate."

About 6,000 volunteers for the Democratic party are in the state this weekend making calls and knocking on doors, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley told C-SPAN this afternoon.

The number of volunteers is double the 3,000 volunteers the state Democrats had in 2004. Volunteers this year are working alongside some 200 in paid staff of the Democratic party or the various campaign, he said.

New Hampshire's Senate race and pair of U.S. House races are tightening, according to tonight's installment of a daily tracking poll by UNH/WMUR.

Released just an hour before the U.S. Senate debate, Republican John E. Sununu appears to be closing the gap on Democrat Jeanne Shaheen to just five points, 47 percent to 42 percent. She led by double digits over the weekend by the same polling unit.

The University of New Hampshire's daily tracking poll out tonight shows that Democrat Barack Obama has a 25 point lead in the Granite State. Leaving aside the point that New Hampshire was one of the top battleground states just a month ago, is it really true that now likes Obama more than deep blue Massachusetts?