Everyone has all of sudden become the next Doug Hoffman. But where were they in the past? Are they being opportunistic? Are they competent? Can they win?

The GOP is in trouble when it has to prop up a “has been” from the nineties. I didn’t want to attack him. He’s a good conservative. But the myths have gone to far. He’s no bright new shining star. He’s a washed up has been capitalizing on the climate and he is still losing to Hodes by 10 in the polls.

It is amazing that you have to attack a good Republican and misrepresent him to the rest of this website all because you want to overstate your favorite candidates’ position on the issues.

First, Kelly Ayotte is not the pro-lifer you make her out to be .

It is fascinating that you believe pro-lifers would consider a candidate pro-life when Ms. Ayotte supports abortion in cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090812/FRONTPAGE/908120375/1037/NEWS04

As most pro-life veterans know, “medical emergencies” are not limited to cases where the life of the mother are at stake but is a loophole that means abortion whenever a woman or a doctor says she should have an abortion.

I would also like to understand the logic in saying an innocent person can be murdered if they are a product of rape or incest before they are born but cannot be murdered after they are born.

Moreover, Ayotte needs to clarify ambiguous statements like the one she made in the following article:

http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091122/OPINION/911220333/1101/COL02

What medical rights is she actually talking about, abortion ????

Second, Ovide Lamontagne does not need someone to tell him he is not prolife. He has adopted several children and has long held prolife positions.

see

http://www.theunionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Fergus+Cullen%3A+Is+Lamontagne+too+good+for+politics%3F&articleId=84108863-ff81-4e73-93a6-ec9d101c11a0

Third, what will happen when Ayotte actually has to speak for herself and not parrot talking points given to her by Washington Republicans. She has already changed her positions on healthcare legislation from her 2006 positions .

Fourth, you have to wonder if she knew Gregg was not running for reelection and she was looking at the political advantages she would gain in a NH republican primary by sticking with the appeal.

Back to your criteria…

Where were they in the past…

Lamontagne is one of the most loyal Republicans in the state. He won the 1996 NH republican primary for governor by defeating a sitting Congressman who was the epitome of the Rhino Republicans who have used the Party to gain power than abandoned every principle the party stands for …. By the way, he supported Hoffman while Ayotte never said anything about that race.

Ayotte will not tell us who she has ever voted for in the past and she will not compare herself to any sitting US Senator, even her political godfather, Senator Gregg….

Are they being opportunistic ???

Ayotte promised Governor Lynch to serve her full term as the state Attorney General if she was renominated but resigned once Gregg told her he was not running . I suspect she also knew former Senator Sununu was not going to run again either…

Lamontagne has one of the most successful law practices in the state and serves on the Board of Directors for the oldest credit union in the nation. He would have to take a paycut to serve in the US Senate… Ayotte would get a payraise.

Are they competent ???

I think Lamontagne will show NH voters that he is a great policy wonk who has substantive answers to questions on health care, job creation and terrorism…

I believe Ayotte is parroting sound bites she gets from Washington consultants and she will be vulnerable when she has to debate specific issues in a primary. Lamontagne is a pragmatic conservative in the Reagan tradition and he will not change his postions because Washington politicians or lobbyists throw money at him …..

Can they win

Start with the fact that both Lamontagne and Ayotte lead Hodes in the polls, not just Ayotte…

http://www.redhampshire.com/poll-has-good-news-for-ayotte-and-lamontagne/

For some reason, people think that one’s gender is a decisive attribute that appeals to voters. Granted, we would always like women to take their rightful place in society but the more important question is where does Ms. Ayotte stand on issues and does she have the backbone to stand for Republican principles. In short, is she just another Olympia Snowe , a RHINO who is currently giving Ms. Ayotte alot of advise or will she be more like Margaret Thatcher ?????

Lamontagne has actually won a statewide primary against a sitting Congressman, Ayotte has won political appointments. Lamontagne has the ability to appeal to independents in the same way Ronald Reagan appealed to voters. Ayotte may be in over her head and it could become very apparent once she has to have to come out from behind the curtains and speak for herself.

I think the difference comes down to this. Ayotte has the support of the same Washington Republicans that used the party to gain power then abandoned Republican principles in the name of moderation and were defeated for acting like democratic socialists.

Lamontagne will win because this country is still right of center and he really believes what he says and has not only the courage of his convictions but also sophisticated policy solutions to the modern problems our country faces.