Fox News contributor Scott Brown reportedly said he's not “done with politics” and refused to rule out running for New Hampshire's U.S. Senate seat in 2014. Brown has followed the well-trodden path of other Fox-favored politicians by signing with the conservative network, which has afforded him a paycheck and a national platform while allowing him to consider future runs for political office.
Since signing with Fox News in February, Brown has been a regular presence across the network and Fox Business. His most high-profile stint came on April 1, when he guest hosted The O'Reilly Factor and delivered an opening commentary built off of a Republican press release.
Brown reportedly told media gathered at a New Hampshire non-profit event yesterday, “I don't think I'm done with politics.” When asked if he is considering running for office in New Hampshire, Brown -- who owns a home in New Hampshire -- replied: “I'm not going to rule out anything right now, because I really haven't thought a heck of a lot about it.”
While Brown reportedly said yesterday he won't rule out “anything right now” in New Hampshire, he appeared to take a different approach last month. When asked during a March 11 press conference if he would “rule out any sort of political race in New Hampshire,” Brown replied: “Yeah, it's something I read about actually and was a little bit surprised about. Certainly my mom lives there, my sister lives there, I have a house there, and I have a lot of good feelings about New Hampshire. But Massachusetts is my home, and if I do anything in the future, it'll most likely be in Massachusetts.”
Brown has also recently said that he's “thinking about” running for Massachusetts governor next year, telling a local Fox affiliate in February: “Of course I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking about a lot of different thing. But right now the best thing I can do for myself and for my peace of mind and I think for the people of Massachusetts is just to hang tight and recharge and be active.” A report in the Boston Globe last month indicated such a run isn't likely for Brown.
Should Brown decide to reenter politics, he would be following a similar path as several other politicians that were hired by Fox News during their time out of office. For example, after leaving congress, former Rep. John Kasich (R-OH), stayed in the public eye by signing with Fox News and becoming one of The O'Reilly Factor's regular guest hosts in addition to hosting his own program. He then successfully ran for Ohio governor with the aid of his Fox News colleagues.
On the other hand, Republicans like Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum joined the network after they both left office, but were unsuccessful in their subsequent campaigns after joining Fox. Early in the 2012 primary, Santorum credited his role at Fox News with having “helped folks remember who I am ... It's a great platform, being able to talk about the current issues of the day.”
Fox News host Geraldo Rivera is reportedly considering running for senate in New Jersey and has said that he will continue to appear on Fox News to “hone a message” until “it's no longer legal” to do so.
The former Massachusetts senator will appear at another New Hampshire event on April 20 for the Grafton County Republican Committee's Lincoln-Regan Luncheon. An invitation to the fundraiser, which runs from $25 for students to $150 for VIPs, notes Brown's Fox News position.