Wow, Kelly Ayotte. Could you be more of a weasel? The New Hampshire Republican is scrambling to keep her Senate seat while staying a Republican and dealing with the fact of Donald Trump. And she's failing.
"I will take on my own party," Ayotte told CNN in Nashua Monday. "I really believe that this is a big issue in this race—that I am the one candidate that will stand up to whomever is in the White House to do good things when we can work together—also when it's wrong to stand up to them." […]
"There's actually a big distinction: Everyone gets a vote, I do too," Ayotte said. "And an endorsement is when you are campaigning with someone." […]
"While he has my vote he doesn't have my endorsement," Ayotte said of Trump. "I'm going to continue to focus on my race and getting out to people what I have done and getting results for people in New Hampshire."
Which is a big ol' load of bullshit. A vote is a vote is a vote, and it's the ultimate expression of an endorsement. That's like saying she supports Mitch McConnell as majority leader of the Senate, but doesn't endorse his Supreme Court blockade. Actually a lot like it, since she's tried to pull that one too, making a big deal out of being one of the Republicans willing to meet with Merrick Garland, but insisting that "the people have to decide" on the next president before the position can be filled. All of which says that Ayotte is willing to let Donald Trump—the guy she won't "endorse" but who she will vote for—pick the next justices.
Ayotte's Democratic opponent, Gov. Maggie Hassan, sums it up nicely: "I think people should hear that statement for what it is: She is trying have it both ways. […] What you see the senator doing is saying she will put her party before the national security and safety of our country. I think that is inexcusable."
Let's keep it up. Please donate $3 to help Maggie Hassan turn this seat blue.