NH Republicans seek Tuesday primary pick who can keep US Senate seat for GOP

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NH GOP seeks nominee to retain US Senate seat

CONCORD, N.H. — Energized New Hampshire Republicans have spent more than $9.5 million trying to retain the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg — believing the winner of Tuesday’s primary will have the edge in November.

Front-runner Kelly Ayotte, a former state attorney general from Nashua, has spent $2 million to push a conservative anti-Democrat, anti-federal spending agenda. Businessman Bill Binnie of Rye has shelled out more than $6 million — over $5 million out of his own pocket.

But Manchester lawyer Ovid Lamontagne may have benefited most from their spending spree, even though his expenses come to only $400,000.

Political analysts say Binnie hurt himself with television ads criticizing Ayotte too early. And Ayotte may have hurt herself by responding.

“The mud thrown between the two threw moderates off both,” said pollster Andrew Smith.

Millionaire businessman Jim Bender of Hollis added nearly $1 million, most of it his money. Three other candidates with less money and name recognition also are seeking the nomination.

The winner will face Democratic Congressman Paul Hodes in the November general election. Hodes has no party opponents.

Aside from the spending contest, there’s a battle over who is the most conservative.

Ayotte got a boost from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s endorsement in July over Lamontagne who courted Tea Party activists. Palin, the former vice presidential nominee, recorded telephone messages to voters that started Sunday praising Ayotte as “the true conservative” — a mantle Lamontagne has tried to claim as his throughout his campaign.

“I want to go to the Senate to cut spending, lower taxes and get people to work in this country,” Ayotte has said.

But Lamontagne claimed he was “the only candidate in the race for the U.S. Senate who is 100 percent pro-life,” and the only one who favors a constitutional amendment to ban all abortions.

Binnie changed tactics in the final week, reaching out to social moderates by trumpeting his support for abortion rights.

In a television ad, Binnie said his Republican Party is “fiscally conservative, strong on national defense and committed to protecting individual rights and privacy.” He reminded independents they can vote in the Republican primary.

“If you believe our individual rights need to be protected, our economy fixed and a woman has a right to choose, then I need your vote on Sept. 14,” he said in the ad. He repeated the appeal during a televised debate last week.