Ayotte calls Trump role model in debate, quickly changes her mind

Donald Trump's nomination has forced Republican lawmakers locked in tight election contests to walk a very fine line in 2016.

Exhibit A: New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte who is facing a very close re-election bid against Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Ayotte said she would "absolutely" call Trump a role model for her children in a televised debate with Hassan Monday, then said she "misspoke" in a statement released shortly after the debate.

When Ayotte was asked if she considered Trump a role model, she gave an awkward and somewhat tortured answer. "I would tell a child to absolutely aspire certainly to be their best and aspire to be President," she said. “I think that certainly there are many role models that we have and I believe that he can serve as president, and so absolutely.”

Less than three hours after the debate Ayotte issued this statement: “I misspoke tonight. While I would hope all of our children would aspire to be president, neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton have set a good example and I wouldn’t hold up either of them as role models for my kids.”

Republicans facing tough battles like Ayotte are finding it difficult to avoid alienating the Trump supporters who make up the party base while at the same time avoiding close association with a controversial nominee whose rhetoric has turned off many centrist voters.

Ayotte has a lead of just 1.6%, according to a Real Clear Politics average of polls. The result of the New Hampshire race will be a key in determining which party controls the Senate.