Craig and Ayotte stick with the attack messages in the WMUR debate for governor

By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER – Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig met in a debate and delivered their closing arguments in the governor's race Wednesday night, but did not waver from their attack messages in their pursuit of the corner office at the State House.

The two stuck to their task without any new instructions from either side.

Both are competing for the seat currently held by Republican Chris Sununu, who is not running for re-election, and voters will be able to choose between the two women on November 5.

Ayotte, the former Republican U.S. senator and attorney general of New Hampshire, and Craig, the former Democratic mayor of the state's largest city, Manchester, engaged in direct dialogue during an hour-long debate sponsored by WMUR-TV but remained silent on the matter.

Housing, homelessness, abortion, crime in Manchester and taxes were among the familiar topics the pair have tackled for months, with each candidate consistently delivering their message.

Ayotte said she would continue on the path set by the outgoing governor.

“I believe New Hampshire is a beacon for the nation,” Ayotte said.

Craig said she would bring a new, progressive approach and had leadership experience after six years as mayor of Manchester.

She said she is running to ensure individuals have the opportunity to thrive and live here and said public safety will be a top priority.

Ayotte is originally from Nashua, while Craig is a lifelong resident of Manchester.

Abortion was the first topic discussed.

Ayotte said she has always believed the issue should be up to the states and that the state has a good new law allowing women to choose an abortion in the first six months of pregnancy. She said she would reject anything that was more restrictive.

Craig said it's about trust. She said she trusts women to make their own health decisions, while Ayotte has spoken out against abortion throughout her career.

“We can’t trust her,” Craig said, adding that Ayotte voted for a more restrictive ban as a senator.

Ayotte pushed back, saying she hadn't changed her mind and that independent fact-checkers had found that to be misleading.

Ayotte said if Washington passed a law banning abortion, she would fight to protect the state's current law.

None answered the question whether they believe life begins at conception.

Another topic was immigration.

Craig said the state has a housing crisis that won't provide the support needed to absorb large numbers of immigrants.

Ayotte said Craig supports Sanctuary Cities.

When Ayotte was asked at the northern border whether the effort to secure that border was the best use of law enforcement, she said she visited Pittsburg and New Hampshire's northern border yesterday and there was an arrest. She said the new enforcement efforts there provide new deterrents to protect against illegal immigration.

Affordable housing was also discussed. Craig said the state should work with cities and towns and help provide infrastructure.

She said Ayotte was on a board that benefited from the housing crisis, but Ayotte said the Blackstone company had little influence on the state.

Ayotte said she would limit the state to a 60-day housing approval process, consider state land for housing and bring people to the table.

The issue of homelessness was also discussed.

Craig, who has first-hand experience on the issue, said supportive housing is necessary to help stabilize and resolve the underlying issues.

Ayotte said she had heard from business owners and daycare centers in Manchester that Craig had failed the city and was spending on renaming the city rather than addressing homelessness.

Craig said Ayotte was destroying Manchester.

“She lies and misleads…” Craig said.

Neither said they would support homeless camps on state property.

Mental health resources and the lack of bed capacity were discussed with Ayotte, who said she would offer loan forgiveness to those willing to provide mental health services.

On gun control, Ayotte said she would increase mental health background checks in the state.

“We have to intervene early,” said Ayotte.

Craig said crime was high when she became mayor and she hired more officers and community health workers. She advocated for bail reform after seeing the “revolving door,” and legislation was passed to change that.

Ayotte said efforts there haven't gone far enough. She said the state needs to improve the public pension system to sustain law enforcement.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican seeking re-election, was a topic and why he should be given another term.

Ayotte said illegal immigration and inflation are most important and Trump is a better candidate than Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

We have a choice, Ayotte said, and the country was better under Trump.

Craig said Ayotte couldn't be trusted because she was changing her position and wanted her election.

“You are supporting a convicted felon in the presidential election,” Craig said.