2010 United States Senate - NH

This is a good sign for Republicans. The GOP has had some success getting good candidates to run for House seats but this is a strong candidate to try and hold a Republican seat in the Senate. It's unlikely that Ayotte would give up a top spot as Attorney General if she wasn't confident she could raise enough money to win. ~ptm~

Story from the AP:
July 7, 2009
NH AG Kelly Ayotte resigns to explore Senate race

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte is resigning to explore a campaign for U.S. Senate.

Ayotte submitted her letter of resignation to Gov. John Lynch, effective Friday, July 17.

In a statement Tuesday, Ayotte says many people have urged her to run. She said she made her decision after discussing the matter with her husband, Joe.

Ayotte, a Republican and the state's first female attorney general, has served for five years under two governors.

Ayotte joined the state Department of Justice in 1998. She was appointed head of the criminal bureau in 2000 and earned renown in that post for negotiating guilty pleas with a pair of teens accused of murdering two Dartmouth College professors.

Last year she oversaw the prosecution of Michael Addison on charges of killing Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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