Posted on 12/18/2014 5:57:37 AM PST by cotton1706
New Hampshire is set to play a far more pivotal role in deciding Senate control next cycle than it did in the midterms.
In 2016, Granite State Democrats are sizing up GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte for a seat vital to winning back the majority.
The Republican tide that resulted in a nine-seat Senate gain nearly crested New Hampshire, where Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen held off a well-funded challenge from former Sen. Scott P. Brown by just 4 points. Combined with the possible Senate candidacy of two-term Gov. Maggie Hassan in a presidential cycle, Shaheen’s ability to hold on despite the midterm headwinds has Democrats in the state feeling an extra dose of optimism about their chances against Ayotte — who Republicans say is a formidable incumbent.
“We withstood the Republican national wave, so there’s a good feeling that in a presidential election year — where lately New Hampshire has been leaning and voting Democratic up and down the ballot — we really have an opportunity in 2016 to take that Senate seat and elect someone who we think will be more in tune with New Hampshire values,” said Kathy Sullivan, a Democratic National Committee member and longtime state party leader.
New Hampshire is one of about a half-dozen states President Barack Obama won and in which Republicans are defending Senate seats next cycle. Democrats need a net gain of five seats to ensure a majority.
Ayotte won her first bid for elected office in the GOP wave year of 2010. But in a state known for its swinginess and the biennial flipping of its two congressional districts, Ayotte beat then-Rep. Paul Hodes by 23 points.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.rollcall.com ...
Hopefully, she'll get a good primary challenge. Otherwise, she'll likely be taken out by a democrat. Her voting record is dismal.
Ayotte (NH) - 2016 - 59% (Average) - 44% (CReview) - 51% (Heritage) - 79% (CFG) - 68% (ACU) - 55% (FreedomWorks)
Ayotte is a loser.
She would not know a conservative principle if it ran her over in the street.
Plus she has the worst voice I have ever heard on a politician—it is always on the verge of cracking, plus it looks like such an effort when she talks.
That she hooked up with John McCain and Lindsay Graham right away tells me all I need to know about her.
Ayotte’s very vulnerable. Like Scott Brown in Massachusetts, she sold herself as one thing and has acted almost the complete opposite. So, although she endeared herself to the GOPe, the base that put her in office will not be riding to her rescue.
Yes, even worse than Fwank, because he has a strong accent. That is understandable.
Listening to Ayotte is like nails on a blackboard.
I have SO HAD IT with the politics of “winning the majority back” on BOTH SIDES
We need Article V convention of the states NOW
Then she needs to be PRIMARIED out of there
START LOOKING FOR A TEA PARTY CANDIDATE TO PRIMARY ALL RINO’S *NOW*
New Hampshire reminds me of Washington and Oregon. Those two States have been invaded by California and become two of the most reliably Blue States in the Country. New Hampshire has been experiencing a similar invasion, but it has been coming from liberal Mass.
She will not be getting my vote. She was an establishment darling from the get-go. I can’t vote for a Dem, but I will not be voting for her.
Yes. Trying to save her is just a waste of resources. Knock her off with a strong conservative.
When Ayotte loses the general in 2016 is she going to move to Massachusetts and try to run for Senate there in 2018?
GOPe will learn the lesson here. You can spend millions upon millions on TV ads. But you can’t make us get off the couch and go vote for your crappy candidates.
I do not understand why NH Republicans can’t run a real conservative for the US Senate. The reason Ayotte won is she campaigned as one. The reason Scott Brown didn’t win is he’s an unprincipled compromiser.
Ayotte has been a major disappointment.
The NH Republicans ought to mount a challenge to her.
Her previous challenger, Ovide Lemontange, was a good guy. He had been around a lot longer and had a solid track record.
Ayotte was an unknown, but thanks to glowing support she got from Sarah Palin, she beat Lamontagne in the primary.
I’m still pretty upset at Sarah for that one.
Why challenge her? Just give her some money and she will probably change political parties.
Lamontagne is a good guy, but a disaster in general elections. He received only 39.5% against Jeanne Shaheen in 1996 (in an open race for Governor) and 42.5% against Gov. Hassan in 2012. I don’t believe he would’ve won the Senate race against Hodes in 2010 had he beaten Ayotte in the primary.
conservatives need to challenge Ayotte too
NH was a GOP state back when they had conservatives running
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