Say Anything Ayotte Faces the Music for Her Conflicting Comments

by: VABBY

Tue Aug 25, 2009 at 12:18:35 PM EDT

According to NHPoliticalReport.com, last Friday Ayotte was "told off in front of hundreds of influential primary voters" by a former state Representative who publicly railed against her record of suppressing the rights of gun owners.  

Citing her opposition to the "Castle Doctrine", a law which justifies the use of deadly force against an intruder on one's own property, former state Representative Richard "Stretch" Kennedy said Ayotte was not "good on guns."  Kennedy told NHPoliticalReport that he spoke with Ayotte after his remarks and that "she was upset, but didn't deny the facts."  He went on to say, "she is a nice kid, but she has no legislative experience and it is clear she has a lot to learn."

Week 1: K Street Kelly Emerges

by: VABBY

Fri Jul 24, 2009 at 11:51:26 AM EDT

CONCORD- Sources say Kelly Ayotte spent her first week as a U.S. Senate candidate meeting with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Washington. Meanwhile back home in New Hampshire questions remain for Kelly about where she stands on the issues. Members of her own party aren't even sure where she stands.

NH Republican Strategist, Mark Sanborn told The Hill: "One of the big questions in the state right now is, where is Kelly Ayotte? Is [Lamontagne] going to be to the right of her by a couple of degrees, or is she going to be classified as a [Republican in name only]?"

In addition to the counsel of Cornyn and McConnell, Kelly has also tapped a K Street lobbyist to advise her U.S. Senate campaign.  This week, the Union Leader reported that Kelly's first staff hire is a registered lobbyist with a Washington-based Government Relations firm.  Tom Daffron, a current lobbyist with Jefferson Consulting, will act as a top advisor to Kelly in her bid for U.S. Senate.

"Kelly Ayotte was in a hurry to break her pledge to serve out her term as Attorney General but she is apparently in no rush to tell the public where she stands on the issues.  Why was her first move as a U.S. Senate candidate to meet with GOP power brokers rather than people of the Granite State?  Is she consulting Washington Republicans to decide what kind of candidate she wants to be?  New Hampshire needs leaders who will represent them in the Senate not do the bidding of Washington insiders," said Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

(Posted by Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

Kelly Ayotte, who are you and what do you stand for? [NHDP DEBUTS NEW WEB VIDEO]

by: VABBY

Thu Jul 23, 2009 at 11:47:26 AM EDT

On Monday, Kelly Ayotte released a statement announcing that she had filed the appropriate paperwork to run for U.S. Senate but neglected to tell anyone why she's running.   While it's clear she is interested in advancing her political career, it is very unclear why the people of New Hampshire should support her candidacy without knowing who she is or where she stands on the issues.

As Attorney General, Ayotte was a vocal supporter of President Obama's plan for economic recovery.  Just last week, Ayotte publicly endorsed a program to solve cold case crimes which is funded by money from the federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   In May, Ayotte also released this statement in support the Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

"in times of economic uncertainty and with the potential for increasing crime, we need to continue to support these programs."

As Attorney General, Ayotte used her role to argue against a woman's right to choose and marriage equality.   She took an assault on a woman's right to choose all the way to the Supreme Court and lost.  Will Ayotte stand behind her anti-choice past now?  Ayotte also filed a court brief to delay marriage equality in California.  With polls showing that a majority of Granite Staters support marriage equality, will Ayotte favor equality now?

(Posted by Victoria Bonney, Communications Director at the New Hampshire Democratic Party)

What They're Saying About Kelly Ayotte…

by: VABBY

Wed Jul 15, 2009 at 13:57:50 PM EDT

NH Political Report: "Before Democratic Gov. John Lynch re-appointed Republican Kelly Ayotte to a full second term as state Attorney General he had an understanding that she would serve the entire term, the governor's spokesman says."  (James Pindell, 7/3/09)

New Hampshire Union Leader: Kelly Ayotte: "Clearly the intent was to continue serving."  (Tom Fahey, 7/7/09)

Politico:  Ayotte "uninterested in running for public office."  (Politico, 2/3/09)

Nashua Telegraph:  "Ayotte said she never promised to serve out the full term, and alluded to the wild changes in New Hampshire politics in 2009."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Concord Monitor: Executive Councilor Bev Hollingworth: "never entered my mind that she would be considering not staying.  I thought certainly she would be staying on. I'm sure (Gov. Lynch) asked. At least I'm pretty sure he asked what her intentions were."  (Lauren Dorgan, 7/12/09)

Concord Monitor: Councilor Deb Pignatelli of Nashua said that Ayotte's potential departure "occurred to me, but then we were reassured that she intended to fill out her term."  (Lauren Dorgan, 7/12/09)

Kelly Ayotte: untested, unproven, unprepared

The Hill: Former Republican National Committeeman Tom Rath: "There's always a question when you go from one role to another role.  It's never as smooth as people think, and politics is a rough business. ... Until you actually get out there, you just don't know."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

The Laconia Citizen: "Whether she will prevail in her bid for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, Kelly Ayotte is a powerful political force, say local observers who differ, however, on whether she has crossover appeal or is just a GOP "maverick" long on ambition but short on legislative experience."  (John Koziol, 7/8/09)

The Hill: "When it becomes official, Republicans will have a Senate candidate with no elective experience who has never run a campaign before. (In New Hampshire, attorneys general are appointed by the governor, not elected.)  That can be a blessing, or it can be a disaster. Only time will tell."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

The Hill: University of New Hampshire Survey Center Director Andrew Smith: "She's got very positive favorability numbers, but that's largely because if you're attorney general, you're arresting people and putting them in jail and not in a position to annoy people.  Her big potential negative is the fact that she hasn't run before."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

Kelly Ayotte: faces prospect of bitter, contentious primary

The Hill: "GOPers not yielding to Ayotte yet."  (Aaron Blake, 7/7/09)

Nashua Telegraph: University of New Hampshire Survey Center Director Andrew Smith: ""A lot remains to be seen, she certainly isn't a slam-dunk to winning that race."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Nashua Telegraph: American Research Group President Dick Bennett: ""It may be a good year for Republicans, but this kind of race opens it up for primaries and I don't think she's strong enough to guarantee there won't be one."  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/8/09)

Nashua Telegraph: Doug Lambert: ""This could spell trouble in lost enthusiasm for a base seeing little difference between a squishy moderate in the mold of a Susan Collins versus a Paul Hodes.  I know I would rather vote for nobody, given that option. Why endure the heartache and heartburn of entrenching such a Republican empowered with incumbency status forever? Is it not better to work on the up-and-coming prospects for the next opportunity.''  (Kevin Landrigan, 7/12/09)

Wall Street Journal: Op-Ed from Brendan Miniter "Mr. Sununu has been mulling a run, as has been up-and-comer Kelly Ayotte, the state's attorney general. But the candidate making the most convincing effort to position himself for a race so far is the neophyte Mr. Tausch."  (Brendan Miniter, 6/30/09)

Washington Post: Chris Cillizza "Enter businessman Fred Tausch, who, as we wrote last week, is a near-lock to run."  (Chris Cillizza, 7/2/09)

Kelly Ayotte: hard-right candidate who opposes a woman's right to choose

Politico: New Hampshire GOP Party Chairman John Sununu: "I think she's much more conservative than the press has made her out to be. She's pretty conservative on the social issues, and she's extremely conservative on the fiscal issues," Sununu said in an interview with POLITICO...Asked if she opposed abortion rights, Sununu said: "I believe so. I don't think I've ever seen a formal statement on her part, but having known her over the years, that's my perception." (Josh Kraushaar, 7/13/09)

The Sentinel Speaks: NH Senate

by: Mike Hoefer

Thu Oct 30, 2008 at 13:15:40 PM EDT

Anyone who wants to be in the New Hampshire Legislature next year deserves respect, sympathy or therapy. A budget deficit of previously unimaginable proportions is growing by the day as tax payments and other state revenues decline in inverse proportion to human needs. Meanwhile, the costs of energy remain high, mortgage foreclosures continue and jobless rates rise.

District 7: Democrat Harold Janeway

he has taken a farsighted view of public needs and potentials: He proposes a serious look at energy-saving weatherization projects, and he says that potential new revenue sources for the state ought to be examined.



District 8: Democrat Jay Phinizy(At least that is my take on this closing comment)

Both Odell and Phinizy have the right instincts on the environment, both are open to tax reform, and both see government as a constructive force. This is an exceedingly close call. Odell has earned the support of most in his district. But those wishing their senator would push the governor more on the education-funding front may properly gravitate toward Phinizy.



District 10: Democrat Molly Kelly

In Concord, Kelly demonstrated an aptitude for problem solving and constituent service, and she has taken up the causes of workforce housing, renewable energy production, alternative transportation systems and job training. To the negative, she supported a flawed effort to let the state escape most judicial review of school funding. But the sum of her record merits her return to Concord.



District 11: Democrat Stephen Spratt

The two candidates are well spoken and open to compromise. Both are positive assets in the Legislature, but only one of them will remain in it after the votes have been counted. The big difference comes down to the relative importance of tax reform in a state that, we have long believed, needs it, and that gives the nod to Spratt,

What are you hearing about the State Senate Races in your District? Have other newspapers endorsed candidates? Please let us know in the comments.