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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8f680000Coverage of the 2016 races in New Hampshire, from the White House to the State House.

VP Candidate Mike Pence Criticizes Hassan and the Media in First Campaign Trip to N.H.

Josh Rogers/NHPR

While campaigning in Manchester, Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence reminded the audience that New Hampshire is where Trump got his first victory.  And he worked to reassure the crowd that despite reports to the contrary, the GOP nominee’s campaign has never been stronger.

Pence told the crowd he didn’t hesitate when Donald Trump asked him to be his running mate, because as he put it-- Donald Trump gets it. Pence suggested that those who don’t get that won’t ever understand.

"It’s pretty amazing though; the party in power and their allies in the media all think the usual things will work against him, right?  You can just see it on their faces. They keep thinking they finally got him this time. They finally done him in. Then they turn on the television the next morning and Donald Trump is still standing stronger than ever before and fighting for the America people."

Pence went after the media from the start in Manchester, and joked that he’s taken to turning on his television with a stick. He also told the crowd that if they spread Trump’s message person to person, they could overcome a biased press. But Pence also relied on the press, specifically a CNN report featuring New Hampshire governor Maggie Hassan,  to help him sell one of the GOP ticket’s key messages:  that Hillary Clinton can’t be trusted.  

"I don’t know if you all saw what Governor Hassan said the other day but if you didn't, why don’t we just go ahead and take a look," said Pence.  He then played an interview of Hassan being asked by a CNN reporter whether she thinks Hillary Clinton is honest and trustworthy.

"Do you think that she’s honest and trustworthy?

I support Hillary Clinton for the presidency because her experience and record demonstrate that she is qualified to hold the job..

Do you think she is honest?

She has a critical, critical plan among others for making college more affordable.

But do you think she is trustworthy?

I think she has demonstrated commitment always to something beyond herself, bigger than herself."

And when the crowd's laughing stopped, Pence was ready.

"Governor Hassan let me help you out, the answer is no…. and that’s why we need Kelly Ayotte back in the United States senate."

Ayotte wasn’t in the room to hear Pence’s comment. But her primary challenger Jim Rubens was, as were a few other top republicans, Congressman Frank Guinta and Gubernatorial candidates Chris Sununu, and Frank Edelbut.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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