By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER – Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig met in a debate and delivered their closing arguments in the race for governor Wednesday night but did not veer from their campaign messages of attack in their quest for the corner office in the State House.

The two stayed on task with no new directions on either side. 

Both are vying for the seat currently held by Republican Chris Sununu who is not running for re-election and voters get to choose between the two women on Nov. 5.

Ayotte, the Republican former U.S. Senator and New Hampshire Attorney General and Craig, the former Democratic mayor of the state’s largest city, Manchester went toe to toe but stayed on message on the issues during an hour-long debate sponsored by WMUR-TV.

Housing, homelessness, abortion, crime in Manchester, taxation were among the familiar topics that the two have covered for months with each candidate keeping their message consistent.

Ayotte said she would continue the path that has been laid by the outgoing governor.

“I believe New Hampshire is a beacon,” Ayotte said for the nation.

Craig said she would bring a new, progressive approach and has executive experience after six years as mayor of Manchester.

She said she is running to make sure that individuals have the opportunity to succeed and live here and said public safety will be a top priority.

Ayotte is a Nashua native while Craig is a lifelong resident of Manchester.

Abortion was the first issue discussed.

Ayotte said she has always thought the issue should be with the states and feels the state has a good new law to allow women to choose an abortion for the first six months of pregnancy. She said she would veto anything more restrictive.

Craig said the issue is about trust. She said she trusts women to make their own healthcare decisions while Ayotte has spent her career opposed to abortion.

“We cannot trust her,” Craig said, adding Ayotte voted for a more restrictive ban while Senator.

Ayotte fought back and said she has not changed her opinion and independent fact checkers have found that that is misleading.

Ayotte said if Washington passes a law to ban abortion, she would fight to protect the state ‘s current law.

Neither answered the question of whether they believe life begins at conception.

Immigration was another issue.

Craig said the state has a housing crisis which would not allow the support necessary to welcome large numbers of immigrants.

Ayotte said Craig supports “Sanctuary Cities.”

At the northern border, asked if the efforts to secure that border is the best use of law enforcement, Ayotte said she visited Pittsburg yesterday and the northern New Hampshire border and there was an arrest. She said the new efforts at enforcement there offers new deterrents to protect from illegal immigration.

Affordable housing was also discussed. Craig said the state should be working with the cities and towns and helping to provide infrastructure. 

She said Ayotte serves on a board that is profiting from the housing crisis but Ayotte said the company, Blackstone, has little impact on the state.

Ayotte said she would limit the state to a 60-day permit process for housing, and would consider state land for housing, and bring people together to the table.

Homelessness was also addressed.

Craig, who has had firsthand experience on the subject, said supportive housing is necessary to help stabilize and address the underlying issues.

Ayotte said she has heard from Manchester business owners and day care centers that Craig failed the city and spent on rebranding the city rather than dealing with homelessness.

Craig said Ayotte is trashing Manchester.

“She is lying and misleading…,” Craig said. 

Neither said they would support homeless encampments on state property.

Mental health resources and the lack of bed capacity were discussed with Ayotte saying she would offer loan forgiveness for those who are willing to provide mental health care services.

On gun control, Ayotte said she would strengthen the background checks on the mental health front in this state.

“We need to have early intervention,” Ayotte said.

Craig said crime was high when she became mayor and she hired more officers and community health workers. She advocated for bail reform after seeing the “revolving door” and there was a bill passed to change that.

Ayotte said the efforts there did not go far enough. She said the state needs to improve the state retirement system to retain law enforcement.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican who is seeking to be re-elected, was an issue and why he should be given another term.

Ayotte said illegal immigration and inflation matter most and Trump is a better candidate than Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

We have a choice, Ayotte said, and the country was better off under Trump.

Craig said Ayotte cannot be trusted because she changes her position and is in it for herself to be elected.

“You support a convicted felon for president,” Craig said.