
Washington (CNN) - A day before New Hampshire Republicans choose their nominee for the open U.S. Senate seat, the conservative publisher of the state's largest newspaper blasted outsiders and establishment types for backing frontrunner Kelly Ayotte in the race.
Joseph McQuaid, publisher of the New Hampshire Union Leader, again endorsed Ovide Lamontagne for the GOP nomination in the crowded contest to replace retiring Republican Sen. Judd Gregg. The Union Leader officially endorsed Lamontagne in late August.
In Monday's editorial titled "Beliefs trump D.C. dictates," McQuaid argues that Lamontagne "has rallied New Hampshire grassroots conservatives while Ayotte has attracted the big-name, let's-be-moderate types who want a candidate who will move to the squishy middle in November.
"That 'play-it-safe' thinking rarely works for the Republican Party. In this year of voter outrage, it could blow up and blow Democrat Paul Hodes right into the Senate," he also said.
Ayotte is leading in the polls heading into Tuesday's primary.
In July, McQuaid criticized former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for endorsing Ayotte even though she doesn't know her. McQuaid told the other candidates in the race in the July editorial, "Don't fret over what a 'Mama Grizzly' from Alaska does. Right now, Granite Staters have more to worry about in keeping bears away from bird feeders."
New Hampshire is one of seven states and the District of Columbia, which will hold primaries on Tuesday.


Yeah, because the last thing we need are those "let's-be-moderate" types who want to govern from the center. Those guys are worse than Al Qaeda.
My God, do you hear yourself? The extreme right wing in this country has gotten themselves wound up into such a frenzy, they won't be happy until everyone who doesn't share their far right views is safely relocated to a re-education camp.
Hodes will become our state's senator anyway. He's done a fine job for us, and the Republican's are running on a platform of the same old tired policies that got our country into the mess we are in. People in NH are not the type to just say no to everything...we are the type who want to see progress and change toward a better future. Remember, we have a lot more independents leaning left than right.
NH needs to come into the 21st Century...!!
Dear New Hampshire, its a free country. besides, you dopes went for Hillary over Obama in 08 primary, McCain over Bush in 00 primary, and issue death threats like theyre going out of style. if we repubs and dems have to put up with ur delusional self importance, expect the outside to have just as much opinion and voice to annoy you right back.
The ONLY reason why Palin is running around the country endorsing 'whatever can walk' and NOT chew gum at the same time is because she wants to run in 2012 and she's trying to get her BACKUP!!
It will BACKFIRE and only 'disrupt' the Republican Party further.
I feel much better now and all of the POLLS over the summer that seemed to FAVOR the RepubliCAN'Ts (and what makes this sound even better is the fact that the RepubliCAN'Ts are the only ones who were polled) – are going to BACKFIRE and the Democrats will prevail!!!
DEMOCRATS – STATE the CASE – UNITE the BASE and WIN this RACE in November – I KNOW WE CAN!!!!
So much for the neutrality of the media.