Democratic incumbent Jeanne Shaheen and Republican challenger Scott Brown are ramping up their campaigning in New Hampshire's senatorial race. Brown is defending his credentials among women on abortion, while Shaheen is talking up her concern for small businesses,
The Boston Globe reported.
Brown, who is a former United States Senator from Massachusetts, was defeated by Elizabeth Warren in 2012. He established residence in New Hampshire to run for the U.S. Senate seat there.
Brown fends off Shaheen's charges that he is unreliable on women's reproductive health issues describing himself as an "independent pro-choice Republican" who wants to balance women's rights and the religious sensibilities of business owners and others, according to the Globe.
He takes Shaheen to task for supporting the Affordable Care Act and cites
Obamacare's business mandate as a threat to small business. The Brown campaign emphasizes jobs and has won the support of the National Federation of Independent Business. He also expects an endorsement from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Shaheen is telling women's groups that Brown is unreliable, that he voted to amend Obamacare to permit employers not to cover contraception in their health insurance package if doing so was against their beliefs. She has been endorsed by the NARAL Pro-Choice America Political Action Committee and anticipates the backing of Planned Parenthood, according to the Globe.
Brown trailed among women voters in his losing campaign against Warren and is running behind among women in the race against Shaheen, the Globe reported.
Shaheen stood by her support for the Affordable Care Act saying it had numerous benefits and that its employer mandate could yet be modified. She said "We're going to address any of the concerns that we hear from small businesses," the Globe reported.
Real Clear Politics poll averages show Shaheen ahead by 4-5 points among New Hampshire voters making the Nov. 4 race too close to call.