Vulnerable Democrats in New Hampshire are distancing themselves from President Joe Biden, repudiating the president's controversial statements and criticizing his policy agenda, according to an Axios report.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D., N.H.), who is holding on to a narrow advantage in her race this November, according to the Cook Political Report, slammed Biden for failing to secure the southern border and called for tougher security and enforcement.
"I'll continue to stand up to the Biden administration on the issue of securing the border, listening to our frontline personnel down there about needing more border agents, more technology," Hassan said. "In some places, we need more physical barrier."
The senator also told Axios she opposes Biden's decision to forgive thousands of dollars in student loan debt for millions of Americans.
"I don't support canceling all student debt," Hassan said. "I have always focused on how you lower the overall cost of higher education and provide workforce training opportunities."
Rep. Chris Pappas (D., N.H.) criticized Biden for "paint[ing] with too broad of a brush" in his speeches attacking Republicans. "That divisive rhetoric all around is poisonous to our democracy," Pappas told Axios.
Republican governor Chris Sununu told Axios New Hampshire Democrats' tough talk toward Biden is simply posturing. Sununu said Hassan has been in "lockstep" with Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) for years, "and then in the last couple months, she panics and tries to convince people that she's some kind of moderate."
The Washington Free Beacon last month spoke to New Hampshire voters, who also said they don't buy Hassan's bipartisan posturing.
"I don't buy the bipartisan talk," one New Hampshire construction worker said. "There's a big divide and nothing is getting done."