New Hampshire Senate candidates trade fire

New Hampshire Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte (R) released a new TV spot Friday that again promotes her as tough crime fighter.

The former attorney general has come under fire from her opponent, Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, after she was forced to testify before a legislative committee about her office's response to the Financial Resources Mortgage scandal. 

Hodes's first TV ad used footage from Ayotte's testimony. During the ad, the announcer says that "44 times Kelly Ayotte ducked responsibility and claimed she didn't know" about the "biggest Ponzi scheme in New Hampshire history."

Meanwhile, Ayotte's response features police in uniform expressing their support for her, as well as former Gov. Steve Merrill (R) saying: "These kinds of claims just don't wash."

The ad then pivots to an attack on Hodes's voting record. "Hodes voted for trillions in new spending and debt," the announcer says, "plus pork barrel earmarks."

"But Kelly Ayotte is a tough conservative who will cut spending."

The 30-second spot is airing on WMUR and statewide cable. It's the campaign's third spot produced by the DC-based firm McCarthy Marcus Hennings.