As Dean says, this is huge:
Before Democratic Gov. John Lynch re-appointed Republican Kelly Ayotte to a full second term as state Attorney General he had an understanding that she would serve the entire term, the governor's spokesman says. ...
But now Lynch's camp in joining the fray suggesting that if she does run she is going back on a promise she made just in April to complete the term through 2013.
"It was the Governor's expectation in reappointing Kelly Ayotte that she would serve her full term," said Lynch spokesman Colin Manning. "At the time of her appointment she told the Governor that was her intention."
Remember, before Judd Gregg pulled the plug on his nomination to run the Commerce Dept., John Lynch planned to appoint Gregg's equally conservative chief-of-staff as his replacement. So Lynch is not exactly a guy known for sticking his neck out on behalf of partisan causes. Again citing Dean, this must mean that Dems are at least somewhat concerned about an Ayotte run.
Now we wait for her response. If Ayotte doesn't bail, this is going to be an ugly albatross for her for the next sixteen months. And I suspect this issue will only further encourage former NH-02 Rep. Charlie Bass (R) to get into the race, possibly setting up a contested Republican primary. Fun stuff!