The Republican Party is better funded and better organized than ever, Sen. John Sununu told a gathering at the Harley-Sanford VFW in Milford Friday night, Aug. 15.

“I feel very positive about not just my race, but about all of our Republican races,” said Sununu.

“We have strong candidates, we have a strong statewide victory organization. We’re going to make sure absentee ballots get out. We’re going to communicate our message to the voters. We’re better funded than ever before.”

Local Republicans listened to Sununu at a spaghetti dinner, standing to applaud before and after his speech.

Sununu said things have changed since the 2006 election, when Democrats took a number of seats from Republicans in New Hampshire and nationally.

“After the 2006 elections, people were saying you can pretty much predict the 2008 elections,” said Sununu. “But what are people talking about now? They’re talking about energy, about the economy and taxes, and about national security.”

Lifting the ban on drilling offshore and in protected Alaskan wilderness should be top priorities, said Sununu, a message that was echoed by the other speakers that night — the Republican candidates for governor and Congress.

Sununu said that like the Democrats, he supports conservation and renewable energy, but he criticized the Democrats for their opposition to drilling in protected areas.

“We need to pursue every possible avenue,” said Sununu. “We need to lift the ban on offshore drilling. We need to allow exploration in the interior of Alaska. We can do it and still protect the environment.”

Some governors of coastal states, such as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, oppose offshore drilling because of the potential impact on the environment and tourism.

But Sununu argued that more domestic oil production would mean more money spent in the U.S. and greater national security.

Sununu also touched upon taxes and the war in Iraq, criticizing Jeanne Shaheen and Barack Obama for supporting a capital gains tax.

“Jeanne Shaheen and Barack Obama want to raise capital gains taxes,” said Sununu. “They say it won’t affect anyone making less than $250,000. But how do you raise taxes on capital gains and not affect small businesses?”

The senator also criticized Democrats for their position on the war.

“The men and women in Iraq have done their job. They’ve improved national security better than anyone thought they could. The Democrats have a conversation and then they come out with an arbitrary date. That’s not how it’s done. We want to bring those men and women home safely having completed their mission,” said Sununu.