New England NBC affiliate WHDH declared Jeanne Shaheen (D., N.H.) the "loser" of Tuesday night's debate with Republican challenger Scott Brown after Shaheen spent the majority of her time defending President Obama.
WHDH political editor Andy Hillier said Obama's presence in the debate created a "barricade" for Shaheen.
"If anyone thought there were two people in this debate, then I think they're wrong because I thought there were three," Hillier said. "President Obama wasn't on the stage but he was in virtually every question and answer. And given the president's unpopularity in New Hampshire, that was a boost for Scott Brown and a barricade for Jeanne Shaheen."
Hillier said Shaheen lost because she had to spend so much time "on the defensive" explaining Obama's policies on the Islamic State, immigration, Ebola and Obamacare.
"This is the kind of the debate that can change votes because these two candidates haven't been seen together before," Hillier said. "I don't how many votes it will change, but if I'm right, and Scott Brown was the winner, then this very close race will get even closer."