A former attorney general – and the first woman to hold that position in New Hampshire – Senator Ayotte was recruited by the national GOP establishment to run for the seat left by retiring Republican Sen. Judd Gregg.
She narrowly defeated a tea party-backed candidate in the GOP primary, but drew the support of movement icon Sarah Palin, who dubbed her “one tough Granite Grizzly.”
When Republican leader Mitch McConnell invited Ayotte and three tea party-backed freshmen on a congressional trip to Afghanistan, some viewed it as a bid to co-opt the new-comers. But Ayotte, who comes from a military family, says it’s “mandatory” for any senator to see how US troops are doing in theater.
She has declined to join the new Senate Tea Party Caucus. “I’m not joining any caucus,” she says. “In the Senate, every senator can have a major role.”
She says she aims to work to create a climate where business can prosper by cutting government spending, fraud, and debt.
“These are issues I will work with anyone on,” she says.
