Ayotte blasts Hassan for supporting Clinton in new ad

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) is attacking her Democratic opponent, Maggie Hassan, for supporting Hillary Clinton in a digital ad launched Monday. 

{mosads}The ad, first reported by New Hampshire’s WMUR Channel 9, features an August CNN interview with Hassan in which the Granite State governor hesitates when asked whether or not she believes the presidential contender is “honest and trustworthy.” Hassan’s campaign told WMUR after the CNN interview that the governor does believe Clinton is honest and trustworthy.

The ad flips back and forth between the CNN interview and recent news headlines regarding the latest FBI review connected to Clinton’s private email server.

“It’s deeply troubling that Hassan is either blind to basic facts or so beholden to the Clinton machine that she can’t level with voters,” Liz Johnson, Ayotte’s campaign spokeswoman, told WMUR.

Hassan’s campaign spokesman pointed to Ayotte’s support for Republican nominee Donald Trump, which has plagued the senator throughout her reelection campaign.

“After reiterating 35 times her support for Donald Trump, who national security experts of both parties have said presents a clear and present danger to our nation, Kelly Ayotte’s attacks absolutely can’t be taken seriously,” Hassan spokesman Aaron Jacobs told WMUR.

“Kelly Ayotte’s months of support for Donald Trump to control America’s nuclear arsenal represents an egregious failure of judgment that is utterly disqualifying,” he added.

Ayotte currently leads Hassan by 2.7 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics state polling average.