All about keeping your distance
Ayotte, Hassan dodge ties to Don, Hill
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, in a tight re-election battle that could determine control of the U.S. Senate, must maintain her distance from contentious GOP nominee Donald Trump if she wants to woo independents and even some Republicans in tonight’s debate with Democratic Granite State Gov. Maggie Hassan.
“She has kept her distance from Trump. I respect that,” said N.H. state representative Carlos Gonzalez, a Manchester, N.H., Republican who endorsed Hillary Clinton for president last week — even as he is backing Ayotte.
“I have a lot of respect for Ayotte and Hassan, and it’s a very close race, but I’m supporting Kelly Ayotte because I believe she’s best for the job.”
The prime-time clash between Hassan and Ayotte, which will air on NECN at 7 p.m., will be the first time many voters will focus on the fierce Senate battle after a summer where most have been distracted by the presidential fireworks.
“I haven’t really thought too much about the Senate race,” said Tammy Ditman, a Merrimack, N.H., Republican who is also supporting Clinton. Ditman said she is judging the Senate candidates on their own merits, however.
“I try as much as I can to not tie them to the craziness of the presidential election,” said Ditman, who is still undecided in the Senate race.
Hassan, meanwhile, has relentlessly linked Ayotte to Trump. While campaigning in Hampton Saturday, she told supporters that Ayotte “says she’s going to vote to put him in the Situation Room with access to our nuclear codes.”
Despite Trump’s overwhelming New Hampshire primary victory, Hillary Clinton has a solid 6 percent lead in the Granite State, according to a Real Clear Politics average of recent polls. Ayotte has kept Trump at arm’s length, saying she will vote for him but not endorse the brash businessman.
While Ayotte currently has a slim lead of 1.6 percent in the hotly contested race, according to RCP, Hassan’s race has been stymied by the unpopularity of her own party’s nominee. Democrats who had high hopes of winning back a Senate majority are sending high-profile surrogates to stump for the governor such as Bay State U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Meanwhile the Senate Leadership fund, a super PAC overseen by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, invested $21 million this weekend for an ad blitz for New Hampshire and other key GOP Senate races.
Both candidates have lamented the $100 million expected to be spent in the race during their first debate Friday morning.