Dem accuses Ayotte of ‘secret campaign’ to reach out to Trump backers
Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s (R-N.H.) Democratic challenger is accusing her of a “secret campaign” to reach out to Donald Trump supporters after distancing herself from the GOP presidential nominee.
Gov. Maggie Hassan’s campaign on Thursday released an ad accusing Ayotte of “secretly sending mail pieces saying Trump needs Ayotte in the Senate.”
{mosads}”It’s true, secret mail pieces embracing Trump. Just more political calculation from Kelly. She’s only looking out for herself,” the ad’s narrator says.
Ayotte rescinded her support for Trump earlier this month after a 2005 tape surfaced of Trump discussing groping women without their consent.
But the mailer — which was paid for by the New Hampshire Republican State Committee — says that “Donald Trump needs senators like Kelly Ayotte in the U.S. Senate” to help ensure conservative justices are appointed to the Supreme Court.
“A Republican Senate ensures we have conservative justices who follow the Constitution,” the mailer says, arguing President Obama’s successor could appoint as many as five new members to the high court.
Ayotte has struggled to deal with Trump atop the GOP ticket this year, drawing attention for at one point saying she supported Trump but didn’t endorse him. She also backtracked after calling Trump a “role model” during a debate.
Democrats have raced to link Republican incumbents to Trump as they seek to wrest control of the Senate from the GOP. Democrats need to pick up five seats — or four if they also retain the White House — to win back the majority in the Senate.
Aaron Jacobs, a spokesman for Hassan’s campaign, said Thursday that the mailers prove Ayotte still supports Trump.
“This craven, two-faced political calculation makes it clear once again that Ayotte is trying to have it both ways on Trump, and voters will see through this desperate attempt from Ayotte to try to save her seat,” he added in a statement.
Ayotte is narrowly leading in the polls with less than two weeks to go until the Nov. 8 election.
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