Election 2016

Senator Ayotte Reiterates She’s Voting for Trump, Not Supporting Him. What?

Vulnerable incumbent Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) spoke to CNN this morning and said she still intends to vote for Donald Trump even though she disagrees with him and won't endorse him.

I’m going to be voting for him but I do have significant disagreements with him, which I've been very clear on, so I won't be endorsing him, “ Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) told CNN’s Manu Raju in an interview published Tuesday. [...]

There’s actually a big distinction,” Ayotte said. “Because everyone gets a vote—I do too–but an endorsement is one where I’m out campaigning with someone. And so while he has my vote he doesn’t have my endorsement, and I’m going to continue to really focus on my race.”

No.

Nope

This is what we call a distinction without a difference. By voting for someone, you have literally endorsed them.

I can't imagine average voters will see it any other way and it seems to me Ayotte's ridiculous position will only anger both Democratic and Republican voters who feel like they're being played by Ayotte.

More than perhaps anything else, voters may be turned off by the impression that she's a bullshit artist.