Boston Globe: Ayotte flunks Trump test

The Boston Globe on Monday endorsed New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) over Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) for the Senate, arguing the incumbent did not do enough to disavow Donald Trump. 

{mosads}”The New Hampshire GOP senator flunked the Trump test, fumbling for months for a coherent position on whether she supported her party’s nativist, misogynistic, unqualified nominee,” the Globe’s editorial board wrote.

Ayotte and Hassan are locked in a tight race that could help determine whether Republicans maintain control of the Senate. 

Ayotte’s reelection campaign has been weighed down by her struggle to deal with Trump, the GOP presidential nominee. At one debate, Ayotte said she would “absolutely” consider Trump to be a role model for children, a remark she later walked back. 

The Globe said Ayotte’s decision to disavow Trump before the second presidential debate of 2016 actually reinforced doubts about her independence. 

“Confronted with a candidate as bad as Trump, she never should have hesitated,” the Globe wrote. “The way she agonized over Trump instead is the final sign that Ayotte does not merit reelection, especially when her opponent, Maggie Hassan, the current New Hampshire governor, is so well qualified.”

The editorial board praised Hassan for taking the lead in passing same-sex marriage while a state senator and expanding the state’s Medicaid program while serving as governor.