Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, a staunch Pentagon ally, is in a fierce dead heat race for re-election.
Noted political forecaster Nate Silver has Ayotte with a 52.2 percent chance of winning re-election, while the RealClearPolitics polling average has her leading her opponent by 1.5 percent.
Ayotte has emerged as one of the leading voices in the Senate, opposing the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, advocating increased U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, increasing U.S. missile defense capabilities, and opposing President Barack Obama’s plan to close the Guantanamo bay military prison. She also serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Ayotte’s office introduced legislation to permanently terrorist’s transfer to the U.S. and suspending the administration’s efforts to transfer detainee’s to foreign countries. Several detainee’s transferred to foreign countries have rejoined terrorist groups.
Ayotte emerged as the leading voice in saving the A-10, and successfully forced the Pentagon to continue production of the A-10 fighter aircraft. The A-10 is designed to provide close air support to ground troops engaged in combat. The National Guard Association of the United States issued a statement in 2014 applauding Ayoote for “her leadership and her focus on protecting our troops,” in stopping the Air Force from cutting the A-10.
The A-10 has been extensively deployed in combat against the Islamic State, and has one of the cheapest operating costs per hour in the air campaign.
Ayotte remains steadfastly against defense sequestration, a long sore spot for Military leaders, declaring in an March op-ed “I will continue to fight to eliminate sequestration to ensure the United States maintains the military necessary to deter – and if necessary fight and win – our nation’s wars.”
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