Kathy Sullivan Punctures Ayotte Balloon

by: Dean Barker

Tue Jul 14, 2009 at 07:07:05 AM EDT

We can argue about whether anyone should be held to a commitment to serve a full term. But the question asked of the attorney general in March was not academic. It was made against the backdrop of considerable speculation about potential Kelly Ayotte candidacies, whether for the Senate or House in 2010 or for governor in 2012. Gov. Lynch expended a significant amount of political capital in reappointing her, upsetting many Democrats who preferred someone other than Craig Benson's former legal counsel. What could have been the beginning of a smooth Ayotte rollout instead handed Democrats the opportunity to question her sincerity. The shaky start left the door wide open for other potential candidates such as Ovide Lamontagne, Charlie Bass and Fred Tausch to continue their own explorations of possible runs.

It will not get any easier for the attorney general. She will have to answer even tougher questions on the issues and her resume. The first question, and one that will be of great interest to potential Lamontagne supporters, is her position on abortion.

There also will be questions about her role in the controversies that overwhelmed former Gov. Craig Benson's administration. Did she approve the use of "volunteers" such as Linda Pepin, who had to resign over payments she received relating to a state insurance contract? Was Gov. Benson following Kelly Ayotte's advice when he refused requests from the Concord Monitor for information about the qualifications of another volunteer, Angela Blaisdell, to serve as his liaison to the state's emergency management team?