By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

MANCHESTER – Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig met in a debate and delivered their closing arguments Wednesday night in the race for governor, but they did not waver from their attack messages in their quest for the corner office in the State House.

The two continued to go about their task, with no new clues coming from either side.

Both are vying for the seat currently held by Republican Chris Sununu, who is not running for re-election. Voters will get to choose between the two women on November 5.

Ayotte, the Republican former U.S. senator and attorney general of New Hampshire, and Craig, the former Democratic mayor of Manchester, the state’s largest city, clashed but stuck to the message on the issues during a debate of one hour, sponsored by WMUR-TV.

Housing, homelessness, abortion, crime in Manchester and taxes were among the high-profile topics the pair covered over months, with each candidate keeping their message consistent.

Ayotte said she would continue the path set by the outgoing governor.

“I believe New Hampshire is a beacon,” Ayotte said on behalf of the nation.

Craig said she would bring a new, progressive approach and has administrative experience after six years as mayor of Manchester.

She said she is committed to ensuring individuals have the opportunity to succeed and live here, and said public safety will be a top priority.

Ayotte is from Nashua, while Craig is a lifelong resident of Manchester.

Abortion was the first topic discussed.

Ayotte said she has always believed the issue should be up to the states and believes the state has a good new law that allows women to choose abortion during the first six months of pregnancy. She said she would veto anything more restrictive.

Craig said the issue is about trust. She said she trusts women to make their own health care decisions, while Ayotte has opposed abortion throughout her career.

“We can’t trust her,” Craig said, adding that Ayotte voted for a more restrictive ban while he was a senator.

Ayotte fought back, saying she hasn’t changed her opinion and independent fact-checkers have found that to be misleading.

Ayotte said if Washington passes a law to ban abortion, she would fight to protect the state’s current law.

Neither answered the question about whether they believe life begins at conception.

Immigration was another problem.

Craig said the state has a housing crisis, which doesn’t allow for the support needed to welcome large numbers of immigrants.

Ayotte said Craig supports “Sanctuary Cities.”

On the northern border, when asked whether efforts to secure that border are the best use of law enforcement, Ayotte said she visited Pittsburg and New Hampshire’s northern border yesterday and an arrest had been made. She said the new enforcement efforts there provide new deterrents to protect against illegal immigration.

Affordable housing was also discussed. Craig said the state needs to work with the cities and towns and help provide infrastructure.

She said Ayotte serves on a board that is profiting from the housing crisis, but Ayotte said the company, Blackstone, has little influence in the state.

Ayotte said she would limit the state to a 60-day permitting process for housing, and consider state land for housing, and bring people to the table together.

Homelessness was also tackled.

Craig, who has firsthand experience on the subject, said supportive housing is necessary to help stabilize and address the underlying issues.

Ayotte said she has heard from business owners and daycare providers in Manchester that Craig has let the city down and spent it on rebranding the city instead of tackling homelessness.

Craig said Ayotte is destroying Manchester.

“She lies and deceives…,” Craig said.

Neither said they would support homeless encampments on state property.

Mental health resources and the lack of bed capacity were discussed with Ayotte, who said she would offer loan forgiveness to those willing to provide mental health care.

On gun control, Ayotte said she would strengthen background checks on the mental health front in the state.

“We have to intervene early,” Ayotte said.

Craig said crime was high when she became mayor and she hired more officers and community health workers. She advocated for bail reform after seeing the “revolving door” and a bill was passed to change that.

Ayotte said efforts there did not go far enough. She said the state needs to improve the state pension system to maintain law enforcement.

Former President Donald Trump, a Republican seeking re-election, was an issue and why he should get another term.

Ayotte said illegal immigration and inflation are most important and that Trump is a better candidate than Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

We have a choice, Ayotte said, and the country was better off under Trump.

Craig said Ayotte cannot be trusted because she changes her position and wants to be elected herself.

“You’re supporting a convicted felon for president,” Craig said.