Sen. Ayotte backtracking after saying Trump would make a good role model

HENNIKER, N.H. — A New Hampshire Republican senator said she would tell a child to aspire to be like GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, but quickly backtracked.

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte made the comments Monday night during her debate with challenger, Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. Sen. Ayotte was asked if children should look at Trump as a role model and she said absolutely.

Minutes later, Sen. Ayotte put out a statement saying she "misspoke" and that she meant to say that she hopes all of our children would one day aspire to be president.

In the statement, Sen. Ayotte added that she thinks neither Trump or Hillary Clinton set a good example for children.

Gov. Hassan took to Twitter late Monday night to say, "This one should have been easy: Donald Trump is NOT a role model for children. Or anyone for that matter."

In their second debate, Trump loomed large following revelations over the weekend reported by The New York Times that he may not have paid income taxes after a more than $900 million loss in 1995.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group