Two Comeback Senators Dominate New Hampshire GOP Primary

Brown says his opponent is coasting on a family name. "He's not doing anything," Brown said. "I'm going to outwork him." He also says voters ask him, "Who's John? The father's running again?"

Brown, who trails in polls and fundraising, argues his time away from Washington makes him the freer vote: "John can't break with the president. He can't break with all those special interests. I'm a freelancer. I have the ability to vote my conscience, because I read the bills."

Sununu says he is running on his own record. "I'm sure when Chris ran, people thought he was me," he said, adding that his brother's "independence and focus on New Hampshire is certainly something he got from me." Asked how the party has changed, he declined: "I'm not going to review 20 years of political history." His pitch: "I don't need to worry about reelection. I don't need to make anyone in Washington happy. I'll just stand up for New Hampshire."

Paul Martino, 57, of North Hampton, said he backs Sununu as "a good guy for this moment," adding, "We need more people who try to find commonalities we can work off of versus differences we can use to be divisive."

Ed Gleason, 89, of Pelham, is voting for Brown: "He's got the background, he's got experience, he's got a proven, demonstrated interest in the people of New Hampshire."

University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala said he was surprised Brown never tried to make the race "all about who is the Trumpiest." Said Scala: "It makes me wonder, well, maybe that's just not in him. He's from that earlier era, and it's hard to learn the new language."