Political insider turns anti-incumbent table on 8-year Dem in key Senate race: 'Hasn't delivered'

CONCORD, N.H. - A Republican running to flip a blue Senate seat in a crucial battleground state is flipping the script on the Democrats' anti-incumbent argument.

Former Sen.

John E.

Sununu, the GOP Senate nominee who's running to return to Capitol Hill after 18 years away, charges that his Democratic rival , Rep.

Chris Pappas, has "been in Washington for 8 years and hasn't delivered for New Hampshire." Sununu and Pappas are facing off in the midterm election in the battle to succeed retiring longtime Democratic Sen.

Jeanne Shaheen in a race that's one of roughly a dozen that will determine if Republicans hold their control of the Senate.

"He has attempted very little in Congress.

He's accomplished even less," Sununu said in an exclusive Fox News Digital interview this week, as he blasted Pappas, a four-term congressman.

THESE 12 MIDTERM RACES WILL DETERMINE IF REPUBLICANS HOLD THE SENATE Sununu was interviewed ahead of a move by the Cook Political Report , a top nonpartisan campaign handicapper, to shift the race in New Hampshire from lean Democrat to toss-up.

Earlier this month, another leading nonpartisan handicapper, Inside Elections, also changed their rating to a toss-up.

It was a rare move in favor of the Republicans amid a political cycle where the GOP is facing traditional political headwinds for the party in power in D.C..

Republicans are also confronting an extremely rough political climate fueled by persistent inflation, soaring fuel prices due to the ongoing war with Iran, and President Donald Trump 's underwater approval ratings.

So what's Sununu's secret sauce? Part of it is his last name, which is a political brand in New Hampshire .

Sununu's father, John E.