Former N.H. Sen. Warren Rudman Dies

Centrist Republican deficit hawk

Former New Hampshire senator Warren Rudman, a leading centrist in the Republican Party and influential voice on budget issues, has died. He was 82.

Rudman died Monday night at a Washington hospital of complications from lymphoma, spokesman Bob Stevenson told the Associated Press.

Best known as the co-author of a deficit reduction law, Rudman was a key supporter of David Souter's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.