US Sen. Kelly Ayotte Says She 'Misspoke' After Calling Trump Role Model

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — U.S. Senator from New Hampshire Kelly Ayotte quickly backtracked on Monday after saying in a debate, “absolutely, I would do that,” when asked if she would point to Donald Trump as a role model.

In the debate on Monday night against the Democratic challenger for her Senate seat, New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, Ayotte was asked if she would hold up Republican candidate for president Donald Trump as a role model for children.

After initially sidestepping, and later visibly hesitating, Ayotte said: “I — I think that certainly there are many role models that we have, and I believe that he can serve as president, so absolutely I would do that.”

The moderator then pressed the moderate Republican senator on why she didn’t endorse Trump if she considers him a role model.

Ayotte walked back the comments in a statement released after the debate.

“I misspoke tonight,” she said. “While I would hope all of our children would aspire to be president, neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton have set a good example and I wouldn’t hold up either of them as role models for my kids.”

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