Ayotte Campaign: Hassan, NH Democrats are ‘Desperate’

WINDHAM, NH — Hours after New Hampshire Democrats sent out a video purporting to show a constituent of U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, not being able to get into a town hall event – that turned out to be a private political event – Ayotte's campaign spokeswoman pointed out that Democrats appear to have reached a new campaign low.

Liz Johnson, a spokeswoman for Kelly for NH, sent out the link to an exchange on Twitter between Ayotte’s campaign manager – Jon Kohan – and Melissa Miller, a spokeswoman for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and stated that they had reached a new low. Kohan called the tactic in Amherst “low-rent” while Miller countered that they didn’t have millions to buy “country club casual” clothes. Another woman also asked when Hassan would be hosting a town hall while another Ayotte supporter stated it was “funny” that Democrats would criticize Ayotte when Hassan won’t have any meetings with constituents herself.

Miller sent out the press statement on Sept. 9, with a video link showing a “constituent” not being allowed into Ayotte’s event in Amherst with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA, because she didn’t have a ticket. Democrats also sent out a link to a post on the Amherst town website that stated it was a “town hall event.” Most town hall events advertised on municipal sites are public events but the campaign actually rented the hall in order to host a veterans meeting with Ayotte and Ernst, according to Johnson.

Miller, however, didn’t identify the “constituent” as a NHDP staffer – Devon Dunn, a press assistant for the party – who has been tracking Ayotte. Dunn posted a video from her attempt to get into a Windham event on Sept. 9, as well.

.@KellyAyotte advertises "town hall," then staff tells attendee it's not a "town hall" Say what? https://t.co/88O3BYB2K3 #nhsen #nhpolitics
— NH Democratic Party (@NHDems) September" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/NHDems/sta... 9, 2016

Miller did not return an email requesting confirmation that the “constituent” was actually an employee of the party.

Johnson said the actions today and online showed that Democrats were in meltdown mode.

"Just days after launching her first TV attack ad against Kelly, Gov. Hassan has taken her negative campaign to a new low by launching personal attacks on members of Kelly's campaign staff,” Johnson said. “Given that Hassan has not held a single town hall meeting, consistently refuses to answer basic questions on the issues, and get called out by the press, it's not surprising that her campaign is in full meltdown mode."