Ayotte and Morse provide variety in the Republican primary debate

It didn’t take long for the two Republican gubernatorial candidates to make it clear that they came to the first debate of the primary ready for battle.

Both former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and former state Senate President Chuck Morse are running ads attacking their opponents and brought those attacks to the stage at the NHJournal debate at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

Morse, who is far behind in the public polls, was the first to go on the offensive, using his opening statement to lay out his attack on Ayotte.

“Kelly Ayotte went to Washington and voted with the Democrats over 260 times,” Morse said. “She voted for amnesty for 11 million illegal immigrants and she voted against school choice for low-income families. And in 2016, she couldn’t support our presidential candidate, Donald Trump. I will run my campaign on the basis of my conservative values.”

Ayotte shot back, pointing to her support from across the Republican spectrum and noting, “I’m the only person on this stage who has ever been asked to help the Trump administration,” a reference to her work in helping Sherpa Judge Neil Gorsuch get his nomination through the Senate confirmation process.

Morse attacked her for her service on the board of Blackstone, one of the largest rental property ownership companies in the United States, and accused the company of “destroying” the real estate market.

Ayotte replied, “You know what, Chuck? That’s pretty ironic, because you sound like a Democrat. I’m really surprised that you’re denigrating the private sector. That’s what I expect from the left, and that’s not the attitude I’m going to bring to the corner office.”

The worst attack, however, came when Morse tried to link Ayotte to the Youth Development Center sex scandal. Some of the alleged assaults occurred during her tenure as attorney general, although none of the cases went to trial during that time.

“She was our state’s chief law enforcement officer when those children were raped and abused at the Sununu Center in 2005, 2006 and 2007. She was there then. So if she wants to talk about failures, about what she didn’t accomplish, let’s talk about it,” Morse said.

“That’s the sad thing about Chuck Morris in this campaign, he says or does anything,” Ayotte replied.

She added that her file was with the Attorney General This included investigations into the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester for child abuse.

The debate also had some lighter moments. When asked what movie or TV show she would recommend to anyone considering going into politics, Ayotte said “Game of Thrones.” Morse’s choice? “Rocky. I always support the underdog.”

Other topics discussed in the debate included the state’s housing crisis, the defense of the Education Freedom Accounts, and Democrats’ attacks on the New Hampshire Republican Party over the abortion issue.

While the debate was streamed live on NHJournal and broadcast by Manchester Public Television, an audience of about 50 invited guests of both candidates was also present at the NHIOP.

Ayotte-supporting Rep. Jennifer Rhodes (R-Winchester) later told NHJournal that she believes Their candidate is poised to unite the Republican Party for the general election, while Morse’s attacks help the Democrats.

“She reacted when he actually went on the attack,” Rhodes said. “I think he got the job done for the Democrats … actually, it’s pretty disgraceful, I think.”

Supporters of Chuck Morse in front of the NHIOP during the Republican gubernatorial primary debate at NHJournal.
(Source: Jeffrey Hastings)

Morse supporter Ginny Busby of Atkinson was also not enthusiastic about Morse’s strategy, as she believes he has the necessary track record as a successful public servant.

“I was not pleased [with the attacks] but it’s politics,” Busby said. “He’s better than that, he doesn’t have to do that.”

But Former House Speaker and Republican National Committee member Bill O’Brien said the back-and-forth is part of the process and he does not believe it will have any impact on the November election.

“I don’t think it will be that important… I’ve seen much worse,” O’Brien said.

“They are both competent candidates, candidates the party can get behind,” O’Brien said. “Each of them has their strengths,” O’Brien said.

The bottom line, GOP insiders told NHJournal, is that Morse needed a fundamental shift in the race, but he didn’t get it.

“Ayotte won on points tonight by cleverly reminding Republicans that she is simultaneously battling Democrats in Massachusetts and nationally,” said a veteran Republican campaign insider. “Morse was solid, but he needed a moment to go viral and break through. That didn’t happen.”

After the debate, both candidates declared their victory.

“Granite State voters have a right to know what is at stake in this fall’s election, and tonight was just the beginning of ensuring the difference between my record and that of my opponent is crystal clear,” Morse said in a statement praising his “dominant performance.”

“I have always stood by our party and President Donald Trump and am committed to uniting Republicans to secure victory this fall.”

Spokesman John Corbett said Ayotte “has shown why Granite Staters support her campaign. Kelly is the conservative leader ready to defeat Joyce Craig and keep our state safe, prosperous and free.”

“These sad, desperate attacks by the fake Chuck Morse will not change the fact that he is losing by a wide margin and that his negative campaign is resoundingly rejected by the few voters across the state who have ever heard of him.”