5 Questions on Scott Brown's NH Campaign

Scott Brown is officially in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire. While a formal campaign kick-off will be forthcoming, here are five questions (in no particular order) raised during interviews with long-time political observers in the Live Free Or Die State on Brown's run:

1. Will he be in the position to put U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, on the spot, as UNH political science professor Dante Scala puts it, "week after week after week?"
2. What level of political donations will flow to Brown, and to Shaheen, and their respective supporting groups? Democrats continue to try to stamp Brown as a foot soldier for the "Koch Brothers, Big Oil and Wall Street," as one NHDP press release read.
3. Is the residency question so last year? Scott and his wife, Gail, moved from Massachusetts to their long-time vacation home in Rye, N.H., late in 2013. When word percolated about him running for Senate here, the "carpet bagger" phrase was tossed about by Democrats and some Republicans. Will it stick? Tom Rath, former RNC member and long-time GOP leader, believes that label will wear away in the six months until the state primary.
4. Does Brown energize the party? Right now, he will be in a four-way GOP primary with Jim Rubens, Bob Smith and Karen Testerman. Will his rivals challenge him on his positions and votes? Smith already has blasted Brown as "Democrat-lite." Another view is that a lively primary is good for the party.
5. How will the Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare," be perceived by the electorate? NHGOP Chair Jennifer Horn is wielding Obama's landmark health care law like a cudgel. She clearly thinks it's a winner for her team. Will its popularity surge, sink or bob along in a sea of critics?