Does it REALLY matter? Look buttheads: The only thing that matters is if we can beat Shaheen for the senate seat. We came 600 votes short because not enough of us showed up for Ayotte. That’s a 6 year seat. Rino or not it doesn’t matter it’s our fault.
Ayotte did everything she could to lose the election. Going against your own party's presidential candidate is a formula for losing. Had Ayotte won she may well have been just another anti-Trump RINO in the Romney/Collins club.
I despise Shaheen but Ayotte was backstabbing viper. I don’t expect miracles or perfection from politicians, but I prefer my enemies to be in the Democrat party, not in my party talking out of both sides of her mouth. If she had simply acted and voted like an unashamed Republican, and supported the Republican candidate for President she would have won. It’s not anyone’s fault but hers.