Today Senator Kelly Ayotte doubled down on Mitch McConnell’s pledge to obstruct the constitutional process, saying that not only would she oppose hearings or votes on a Supreme Court nominee, but she would not even meet with the nominee. This is yet another time where Ayotte is putting her partisan ties ahead of the interests of Granite Staters.
Public opinion has shown that Ayotte is on the wrong side of this issue. She was roundly criticized by editorials in New Hampshire, and new polling confirms her obstruction will make her “already dodgy reelection prospects…even more perilous”:
· 59 percent of New Hampshire voters think that the Supreme Court vacancy should be filled this year;
· 78 percent of voters think that Senators should wait to see who the nominee is before deciding to whether to confirm that person;
· 66 percent of Republican voters think the nominee deserves a chance before senators decide whether or not to confirm; and
· Just 42 percent of voters approve of the job Ayotte is doing.
“Kelly Ayotte’s Supreme Court obstructionism is spotlighting her commitment to Washington Republicans at the expense of New Hampshire,” said Lauren Passalacqua, DSCC National Press Secretary. “Ayotte’s latest embrace of Republican political games over the basic responsibilities of her job is shameful, and voters will turn out in November to elect a Senator who will stand up for New Hampshire and actually do their job.”
