MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Candidates for U.S. Senate Republican Don Bolduc and Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) met for their third and final debate Wednesday night, where they made their closing arguments in the race that could decide which party controls the Senate next term.
Bolduc, a retired Army general, targeted Hassan’s voting record as leading to the “heating and eating” issues that are hurting Granite State voters, while Hassan defended her bipartisan record. The race has tightened considerably in the last month, with the most recent poll showing Bolduc with a 1-point lead. Here are five takeaways from the last debate:
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1. “Heating and eating” issues take center stage.
Energy prices are a top concern ahead of winter in New Hampshire, along with rising food costs that come with inflation. Bolduc dubbed them the “heating and eating” issues and blamed them on Hassan’s support for President Joe Biden’s policy agenda.
“She skips all around [inflation] because all her votes in the Senate have caused this heating and eating issue, that we have retirees going back to work,” he said. “She’s created it with her 100% support to Joe Biden’s failed policies.”
Hassan, in turn, accused Bolduc of “singing Big Oil’s song.”
“Big Oil has made record profits,” she said. “Shell Oil Company, for instance, made more money than they ever had in the second and third quarter this year while they are jacking up prices at the pump. Now that’s one of the reasons I’ve called for an investigation into Big Oil price gouging. That’s one of the reasons I’ve called for the suspension of the gas tax, something Don Bolduc opposes. And that’s why I voted for critical legislation that will finally transition us to clean energy, a clean energy economy, so we can be energy independent and not have to rely on Big Oil or foreign oil.”
2. Bolduc denies shifting on election views.
Bolduc has changed his stance on the legitimacy of the 2020 election several times throughout his campaign but denied that he had changed at all when asked during the debate.
Moderators pointed out that he initially said the members of Congress who certified the election for Biden did the right thing, then later signed a letter with other retired generals questioning the results. Before the August primary, he said he stood by the letter but afterward said the election was not stolen.
“Well, it doesn’t keep changing,” Bolduc responded. “I have been consistent about it. Up to the point, you just gave an accurate analysis. And I have said on 14th September it was not stolen. That’s it. I’m not discussing it anymore. We need to move forward. Elections are about the future. And if we leave the future in Sen. Hassan’s hands, we’re going to be in big trouble.”
3. Both candidates condemn heated rhetoric that could contribute to violence.
Both Hassan and Bolduc condemned extreme political rhetoric that could lead to violence in the light of an attack on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) husband, Paul Pelosi.
“You know, the whole point of democracy is to have a system for resolving disputes that isn’t violent, and it is absolutely essential that we tone down the rhetoric,” Hassan said.
Bolduc agreed, acknowledging, “Well, you know, I think the senator has made some very great points. And I’m really sorry for what happened to the speaker’s husband. Nobody should have that happen to them anywhere in America, but it’s a sign of the times.”
After the debate, Hassan wouldn’t directly mark Bolduc as one of the people responsible for inflaming political rhetoric when asked if he perhaps bears some responsibility for the political climate that led to the attack.
“I am very concerned about some of the extreme rhetoric we’ve heard, even since Paul Pelosi was harmed, and the conspiracy theories that have spun out around that,” she told reporters. “And I think it is time for people to really focus on strengthening our democracy, doing what Granite Staters do each and every day.”
4. Abortion is only a state issue, Bolduc says.
Bolduc said he sees abortion as an issue to be settled at the state level and said he wouldn’t vote for a federal ban.
“It’s a very important issue, and that’s why it’s a state rights issue, and it’s an issue that me and my opponent will not be dealing with in the United States Senate,” he said in response to the first question of the debate. “And that’s as simple as I can state. It is a state issue. I agree with the state law, and I will support that. That’s the end of what I have to say about it.”
Hassan sidestepped a question about whether she supports abortion until birth, saying she wouldn’t limit the procedure to just the first 24 weeks of pregnancy because the decision belongs between a woman and her doctor.
5. Bolduc blasts Hassan’s “politician” answers.
Bolduc has pitched himself as a political outsider and took every opportunity he could to frame Hassan’s debate answers as indicative of her role in the Washington, D.C., establishment.
“Well, first of all, I’m not a politician. Secondly, Sen. Hassan once again hasn’t even answered the question. That was the finest Washington, D.C., career politician nonanswer I’ve ever heard,” he said after she sidestepped a question on abortion limits. “She believes in abortion up to the time of birth.”
Again, he blasted her for sidestepping questions about COVID-19 stimulus bills she voted for.
“They were unnecessary, and she just gave a nonanswer,” he said. “She didn’t even answer your question. Nobody even challenged her. That’s what she’s gonna get away with all night long, not answering the question. Yes, those COVID relief bills cause problems.”
On her border response, he said, “Well, I think it’s a nonanswer. I think it’s just a bunch of career politician political talk because last time I checked, the border wasn’t secure.”
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Republicans need a net gain of just one seat in order to take control of the upper chamber, and flipping Hassan’s seat would be a major victory. Recent polls have shown that Bolduc is within striking distance, having narrowed an initial gap of about 8 points after the August primary.
