There are three ways to determine who is winning the the invisible primary between U.S. Senate Republican race between former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte and former Republican gubernatorial nominee Ovide Lamontagne:
1. Fund-raising
2. Polls
3. Endorsements/organization
The first two can be quantified, but the third is more elusive. The key question now is whether there will be a Republican primary in the first place and if there is what it will look like. This question will be answered by the 50 to 100 biggest conservatives in the state. A handful of highly regarded conservative operatives and activists helped compile the list is below (none were affiliated with either campaign). This list is about the argument: whether Lamontagne has an argument there must be a conservative alternative or whether Ayotte can be persuasive that she is good enough for them. So, for the most part, the list avoids talented names that are mainly paid operatives. Given that a primary is a year away names on this list may change down the road, but the goal is to be consistent and fair.
Already a member? Log in above.