Discussion: Democratic N.H. Gov. Maggie Hassan Challenges Ayotte In U.S. Senate Race

system1 · October 5, 2015, 1:47pm

Discussion for article #241386

jsfox · October 5, 2015, 1:58pm

As a NH resident this is GREAT news!

agio · October 5, 2015, 2:07pm

This is a tough but winnable race. Ayotte is a moderate, or at least what passes for one in today’s GOP, but she’s still I think a little right of the general New Hampshire electorate.

sniffit · October 5, 2015, 2:09pm

Should be interesting to see what Ayotte’s PACs do with the last name “Hassan”…

pluckyinky · October 5, 2015, 2:10pm

Absolutely. Is there even a more formidable potential Democratic candidate in NH? From my understanding, this is the best news possible for Democrats.

k_in_va · October 5, 2015, 2:18pm

Pretty damned good news for those of us in the other 49 states, given that she’s could be a big help in taking back the Senate!

azjude · October 5, 2015, 2:20pm

Go Maggie!

Kick the third member of the tres amigos (jony mc, ms. lindsay and Ayotte) to the curb!

Hopefully we here in Arizona will finally do the same to jony mc!

captaincommonsense · October 5, 2015, 2:21pm

Great news for America.

jsfox · October 5, 2015, 2:23pm

Nothing, if (big IF) they have a brain. Hassan has been a popular governor.

publishermike · October 5, 2015, 2:24pm

New England needs to go D. Word on the street here is that Collins will not seek re-election and instead run for Governor. If true, that seat is a possible pick up in 2018, though Maine’s cycle puts that election in an off year. (Our Gov. cycle is alwasy mid-term, hence LePage).

We’ve got some decent Dems here in the Pinetree state. Would love to see Pingree make the jump or have Shenna Bellows make another try.

The Blaine House is Collin’s if she wants it. I think she envies Olympia Snowe’s decision to bail.

scottyrad · October 5, 2015, 2:25pm

This is excellent news for NH and America! If I were the Hassan campaign, I would be hitting Ayotte for all the times she voted with Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell, as well as highlighting how many times she filibustered executive nominees. She’s somehow managed to get a label as a moderate, and like Susan Collins, deserves no such reputation.

daveyjones64 · October 5, 2015, 2:26pm

If they are smart, not a damned thing. Its pronunciation I believe is more like “Hass-en”, and its certainly not like this blonde haired, blue eyed woman is an unknown in NH. She’s the freaking governor!!

If Ayotte tries to paint her as some Islamic extremist, the blowback will result in little pieces of Ayotte being picked up all over the White Mountains for ages to come.

daveyjones64 · October 5, 2015, 2:28pm

Hassan has been the candidate for a while now, she just had to get through the budget fight first (which the GOP was purposely dragging out for precisely this reason), before she could declare…as per her promise. She is well known, well liked and just this announcement will probably push NH from “leaning red” to “leaning blue” over night.

brooklyndweller · October 5, 2015, 2:34pm

Regarding the Senate seat, I think it’s great. I’ve heard some good things for Hassan. Ayotte strikes me as weak and in a Presidential year, I don’t see her getting re-elected.

My only concern on this is the Governor’s seat. Is it possible that this is a situation where we get a Dem in the Senate but a Rethug as Governor? I don’t know.

ralph_vonholst · October 5, 2015, 2:51pm

I hope so, but given that we live in Baja Utah, it’s more likely we will get some right-wing nut job who claims he’s ready to govern because he’s managed a large wrecking yard, belongs to the posse commitatus, owns 3 cabinets full of guns, several 120mm howitzers, and talks to Jesus every morning over percolator coffee and crispy cremes.

mainemomma · October 5, 2015, 2:52pm

I was going to give Ayotte a break, in the beginning. But she aligned with the other terrible grumpy two… and that was it. Her media visage of an ‘appropriate frowny face’ while the men blibbered on about this and that… She has accomplished nothing. Good riddance, hope Maggie kicks butt.

thunderclapnewman · October 5, 2015, 2:57pm

You’re far more generous than I am.

The first time I heard her speak, I knew she was a typical lying right-wing grifter.

lestatdelc · October 5, 2015, 3:03pm

Don’t know Gov. Hassan’s history and all, but glad someone is looking to pick off Ayotte.

Hopefully those with a good ear to the ground in New Hampshire can give us the low-down if she is a good candidate/campaigner and what the prospects of picking up this seat are.

sabatia · October 5, 2015, 3:04pm

As a resident–and serial voter–in northern NH (Coos Co.), I’d love to see Hassen take Ayotte out. Still amazes me given all the absolutely insane, loud-mouthed, and vicious Tea Baggers and even more thuggish ultra right-wing reactionaries around here, that this county voted for Obama twice!

economides · October 5, 2015, 3:35pm

That would be a suicide mission.

The sitting Governor, and her husband, Thomas Hassan,the principal of Exeter Academy are the least swarthy people in America.