MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte says she is dropping her support for Donald Trump and plans to write in vice presidential running mate Mike Pence’s name for president.
Ayotte says in a statement that she cannot support a presidential candidate “who brags about degrading and assaulting women.” Her comments refer to a recording made public Friday that features Trump making lewd and sexually charged comments about women in 2005.
The Republican senator’s statement comes after months of saying she would vote for Trump but not endorse him.
Ayotte’s re-election contest against Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan is one of the closest in the nation. Hassan is calling Ayotte’s decision a “craven attempt at political self-preservation.”
Trump said Saturday he will not quit the race.