New Hampshire

• Born March 21, 1951 in New York City• Graduated from: Collegiate School 1968; Dartmouth 1972; Boston College Law School 1978• Began his career as Assistant Attorney General of New Hampshire• Later became a special prosecutor for New Hampshire• New Hampshire State Councilor on the Arts• Became Congressman in 2006• Was on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Financial Services Committee• Lives with wife, Peggo, and two children

Key Issues

• Jumpstart economy• Affordable Health Care• Lower property tax• Lower Health Care for small businesses• Affordable energy and green energy jobs• Mortgage crisis• Ethics in Washington• Honoring veterans

Voting History

• Voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (aka "the financial bailout bill”), which enacted the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP”)

• Voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, as well as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

• Born June 27, 1968 in Nashua, New Hampshire• Graduated from Nashua High school and Pennsylvania State University• Received a Juris Degree from Villanova University School of Law• Became a Prosecutor of the New Hampshire Attorney General in 1998• Later became Deputy Attorney General, and then Attorney General • Lives with husband, Joe (Iraq war veteran), and two children

Key Issues

• Decrease government spending• Strengthen economy• Promote honesty within the government• Pro-Life• Against same-sex marriage• Health Care Reform: lower costs• Reduce dependence on foreign energy sources• Supports gun rights

Voting History

• Opposes passage of Employee Free Choice Act that proposes to amend the National Labor Relations Act

• Supports Arizona’s anti-illegal immigration law passed in 2010

• Favors ending additional spending under the stimulus plan

• Paul Hodes (D) went uncontested

• Ayotte (R) defeated Tea Party favorite Ovide Lamontigne (R) 51% to 44%

• Population: 1,324,575• Area: 9,351 square miles (7th smallest state)• Capital: Concord, NH• Largest City: Manchester, NH• Industries: Textiles, Lumber, Tourism, Electronic Equipment, Software• Race: White 95.3%; Black 1.4%; Asian 2%, Hispanic 2.8%• Home Ownership Rate: 69.7%• Median Household Income: $63,235• High School Graduates age 25+: 87.4%• Bachelor’s Degree or higher age 25+: 28.7%• Person’s below poverty level: 7.8%

• Voter Registration Rate: 96.1%• Registered Democrats: 282,421• Registered Republicans: 280,507• Registered Independent: 395,600• Swing state in most elections• Voted Democrat in four of the last five elections• Judd Gregg (R) was previous Republican Senator and Governor of New Hampshire

• Economic Rebound• Financial Reform• Health Care• Immigration• Homeland Security• Afghanistan

• Oil Spill• Energy• Climate• Education• Same-Sex Marriage• Gun Rights

• Economy still considered a key issue in New Hampshire even though the income level is high and the unemployment rate is half of the national average

• “Biden Defends Administration Policy in Return to NH” (He defended the policies of the administration and supporting Democratic candidates)

• “Romney to Speak at NH GOP Convention” (Brings conservative message to NH)

• “Hodes, Ayotte Differ On Tax Cuts For Wealthy”

• Opposition between Democrat and Republican on the same issue (tax cuts, government spending, deficit)

•Will New Hampshire become a red state again?

• Which candidate is the most fiscally responsible? (Ayotte portrayed as a fiscal conservative)

• The election is termed Commitment 2010