The NRSC's Secret Plan to Help Kelly Ayotte

by: VABBY

Mon Sep 21, 2009 at 16:49:33 PM EDT

NRSC boss, John Cornyn claims that he has not endorsed Kelly Ayotte but his actions say otherwise.   He has publicly referred to her as one of his top recruits, organized large-scale fundraisers for her in Washington and dispatched NRSC political operatives to her campaign.  It is clear Cornyn is working behind the scenes to help his handpicked candidate beat her primary challengers.  

Tomorrow, Ayotte will attend three fund-raisers in Washington. One of her fund-raisers will be hosted by Senators Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn at the NRSC Headquarters; another will be hosted by Washington-based lobbyist Rick Murphy, whose client list has included both the tobacco and pharmaceutical lobbies; and her third fund-raiser will be hosted by an unknown party at Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, the well-known hangout of K Street lobbyists and Washington's power elite.  As Cornyn's top recruit, Ayotte will undoubtedly rake in millions from these three events.  

The NRSC has also dispatched two of its top fundraising and political operatives to help the first time candidate out-raise her seasoned primary opponents.  Laura Van-Hove, a top fund-raiser for the NRSC who specializes in high-dollar event fundraising, was dispatched to help Ayotte fund-raise in Washington.  While Neva Foley, the former NRSC Associate Political Director, was sent to work as Ayotte's campaign Operations Director.  

Backdoor support from John Cornyn and the NRSC will allow Kelly Ayotte to raise millions from Washington special interest groups, say GOP sources.  One GOP activist told the Union Leader: "When Charlie Crist (of Florida) got into the Senate race with the NRSC's support earlier this summer, they raised $4.3 million in just 50 days. There is no reason why she'll be any different."

NH-Sen: Fosters Fail

by: Dean Barker

Thu Jul 30, 2009 at 10:20:28 AM EDT

The newest installment of Ayotte attacks took her to task for remaining "quiet as health care debate nears in Senate."

Keep in mind, Ayotte is only considering a run for the U.S. Senate, the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Judd Gregg.

"Today I filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) in order to form a candidate committee for the United States Senate. This is the next step in the legal process as I explore my potential candidacy for the race in 2010," Ayotte said in a statement at the time.

Note the words "explore" and "potential."

Seems to be written in plain English. However, apparently not plain enough for the communications director of the state Democratic Party.

090720 Ayotte Statement of Candidacy

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)

John H. Sununu & the NHGOP: Reckless Rhetoric v. Reality

by: VABBY

Thu Jun 18, 2009 at 14:06:39 PM EDT

CONCORD - After weeks of calling for unspecified budget cuts that will likely result in sharp hikes to local property taxes, Republicans still can't say what they would cut from the budget.

Just this week, NHGOP Chairman John H. Sununu told a Derry News/Eagle Tribune editorial board that more budget cuts are needed but couldn't specify a single area of the budget he would cut. Apparently not much has changed with him: Sununu sent state spending skyward by 27.5 percent while governor in the 1980s.

In contrast, Democratic Leaders are proposing a budget that includes many reforms and cuts, including a reduction of the state's workforce by 5 percent, the closure of five districts courts and the Laconia prison, and the extension of the current freeze on hiring, travel and equipment purchases over the next two years.

Of course, John H. Sununu isn't the only Republican paying lip service to the budget process.  Senate Minority Leader Peter Bragdon told the Union Leader that he doesn't know what's in the budget, let alone what he'd eliminate from it. House Minority Leader Sherm Packard authored an op-ed calling for cuts, but failed to identify a single line item, program or agency he would trim.

"With the bulk of our state budget dedicated to local aid one has to wonder if Republicans are talking about slashing assistance to cities and towns, which would result in the highest property tax increase in New Hampshire history.  If Republicans really want to balance the budget on the backs of property owners they should at least be honest about it.  It's time for Republicans to either name their cuts and be part of the process, or support the balanced budget plan proposed by Democrats," said NHDP Chairman Raymond Buckley.

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

When the Going Got Tough, Republicans Got to Raising Taxes

by: VABBY

Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 15:10:54 PM EDT

CONCORD - The national economic crisis continues to impact New Hampshire families and businesses, and the state budget isn't immune, with revenues for the next fiscal year expected to come in lower than those in 2004. Yet Republicans continue to claim that new revenue is not needed to balance the budget and instead are calling for unspecified cuts that would likely result in sharp local property tax hikes.

However, it wasn't too long ago that Republicans found themselves in a similar situation when they held majorities in the legislature and had to put together a balanced budget in a sluggish economy.

The difference between the budget passed by Republicans in 1990 and the budget Democratic leaders are proposing now is that Democrats are making tough choices to reduce the bottom line. Democrats this year are proposing to cut the state's workforce by 5 percent, close five districts courts and the Laconia prison. Republicans in 1990 chose to create new taxes and raise existing taxes in order to increase overall spending and to make up for a massive expansion of state spending throughout the 1980s.

In 1990, Republican leaders used new taxes and tax increases instead of cuts to balance the budget after inheriting a record deficit left by former Gov. John H. Sununu, who increased spending by 27.5 percent while in office and is now the state party chair.

Then-Republican Speaker of the House Doug Scamman said of the need to raise taxes in the midst of serious economic challenges, "These issues are bigger than party or personal political objectives. Today, we must all be statesmen. I ask that you face your obligations as legislators to vote responsibly today. Put the political considerations aside and face your responsibilities."

According to the 1990 House Journal, Representative Scamman's argument was successful in persuading his Republican majority to increase taxes and spending - in fact 17 Republicans still serving in the Legislature voted for the bloated budget.  Republicans approved:

   * An estimated $14 million increase in telecommunication taxes for consumers
   * An estimated $11.9 million increase in the real estate transfer tax
   * An estimated $8.5 million increase in the tobacco tax
   * An estimated $2.3 million increase on the beer tax
   * An estimated $13.9 million increase in the Meals & Rooms tax
   *  Increased taxes on motorists, including a $5 process fee for diesel fuel users
   * A 5 to 7 percent tax increase on gambling profits

"Republican legislators must be suffering from a severe case of amnesia," said Ray Buckley, Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "It wasn't too long ago that they passed historic tax increases and out-of-control spending during an economic crisis. Republicans should stop playing politics and start naming their cuts."

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