New Hampshire Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte says she will not vote for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump after controversial comments he made about women have come to light.
In a statement, Ayotte said:
"I wanted to be able to support my party’s nominee, chosen by the people, because I feel strongly that we need a change in direction for our country. However, I’m a mom and an American first, and I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women. I will not be voting for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton and instead will be writing in Governor Pence for president on Election Day."
This comes after Ayotte made headlines for saying she thought Trump was a good role model for children.
Ayotte joins a number of Republicans who have said they do not back Trump. Recently Utah Republicans Gov. Gary Herbert and Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdrew their endorsements.
Meanwhile, Trump supporters are standing by their candidate and speaking out against Ayotte’s decision not to vote for him.
New Hampshire Trump Coalition for Women, Paula Johnson, is one of the supporters.
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“It’s an unfortunate thing that she feels this way," Johnson said." "Mr. Trump has a vision for America that’s her right as an American Citizen what she feels in her heart that she feels is right."
New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan, who is running for Ayotte’s senate seat, spoke about the Ayotte’s decision at an event supporting Hillary Clinton in Manchester on Saturday.
“It took her an awful long time and it really reflects that she is somebody who consistently puts her party the corporate special interests that back her first and that everything is a political calculation,” Hassan said.
A long list of republican leaders have condemned Trump’s comments but some of his supporters are unwavering.
“I think she should have stood with her party and what was said was unfortunate but it’s not like it was said on purpose on National TV during the campaign or something, it was said almost as a mistake over a decade ago,” said voter, Paul Hudsteiner.
