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Shaheen, Brown use issues as weapons

Both seek leverage in N.H. Senate race

US Senate candidate Scott Brown (right) talked with Harris Hill Senior Center administrator Lynn Carpenter in Concord, N.H., during a recent visit to patients. In photo at right, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (left) greeted supporters during a campaign stop at the Firefly American Bistro in Manchester.Reuters; Cheryl Senter/Boston Globe

PEMBROKE, N.H. — Senator Jeanne Shaheen attacked Scott Brown Monday as untrustworthy on women's issues, such as abortion rights.

Brown, who describes himself as "prochoice," said her attempt to malign his record is "typical, because they're desperate," and he criticized his Democratic US Senate rival for hurting small businesses with her vote in favor of President Obama's health care overhaul.

Shaheen defended her vote and described Brown's knock about the controversial law as "the typical Republican attack." As for Brown describing her criticisms of him as a smear? "That's like being called ugly by a frog," she said.

Less than 40 days before New Hampshire voters choose their US senator, Shaheen and Brown ramped up potent lines of attack against each other, launching statewide political tours to hammer home their storyline of the week.

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In Pembroke Monday morning, Brown kicked off his "Better Jobs for All" tour at a tractor dealership surrounded by John Deere equipment. He picked up the endorsement of the National Federation of Independent Business, which bills itself as the country's leading small business association.

He listened intently as the tractor dealership's president worried aloud about the negative impacts the health care law was having on his company's ability to grow. And Brown spoke about what he characterized as Shaheen's poor record voting for small business interests, pointing to her vote, among other pieces of legislation, for the health care law.

"When you're talking to employers like this employer, the biggest challenge is Obamacare and the business mandate that's coming in," Brown said, referring to the Obama administration's planned enforcement of the law's much-delayed health insurance coverage requirement for employers with 50 to 99 employees, beginning in 2016.

In Manchester Monday afternoon, Shaheen kicked off her "A Senator New Hampshire Women Can Trust" tour at a restaurant surrounded by supporters holding signs such as "Women Count. Vote Pro-Choice." She picked up the endorsement of the NARAL Pro-Choice America Political Action Committee, which backs candidates who support abortion rights.

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She listened intently as supporters lauded what they called Shaheen's longtime and tireless fight for women's reproductive rights.

And she worked to build a sharp contrast with her GOP rival.

"What we've seen from my opponent, Scott Brown, is a very different record," Shaheen told the fired-up crowd, saying that he does not stand up for women's reproductive rights.

Shaheen cited Brown's support of the Blunt Amendment. That 2012 legislation, sponsored by Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, would have amended the health care law to allow insurance plans and employers to deny coverage for services, including contraception, that are contrary to their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

Recent public polls, even those that showed the race very close, have found Brown trailing Shaheen, a Democrat, among women. Shaheen's sharpened line of attack is probably an effort to widen that gap.In his losing 2012 reelection effort, Brown faced similar attacks from Elizabeth Warren, his general election rival, that were seen as successful.

In Pembroke, Brown defended his record, reiterated that he is an "independent pro-choice Republican" who cares about women's issues, and he derided what he characterized as an attempt to scare voters and mislead them about his credentials.

"To try to demonize me and smear my record is kind of typical, because they're desperate," he said. "They understand what's going on. They recognize the polls. And I'm going to continue to fight for women."

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Asked about Shaheen's criticism over his backing of the Blunt Amendment, Brown said he believes people should have the right to practice their faith. He added that he thinks a balance can be struck, both protecting women's rights and the freedom of religion.

In Manchester, Shaheen defended her vote for the Affordable Care Act, ticking through the law's benefits, and she indicated that its employer mandate is not yet a done deal.

"We haven't seen yet what is going to happen with the employer mandate," she said calmly. "We're going to address any of the concerns that we hear from small businesses."

But her voice tightened and her eyes widened when asked about Brown describing her attacks as smearing his record.

She noted the bitterly tough attack ads that have aired against her from Brown and his outside-group allies.

"For him to suggest that [it's a smear] because I have raised issues about his positions on women's health and reproductive care, you know, that's like" — Shaheen paused for a moment — "being called ugly by a frog."

Both candidates plan to continue underscoring their messages of the week with events across the state. Brown is set to get the endorsement of the US Chamber of Commerce in Nashua Tuesday. Shaheen is scheduled to campaign Friday with Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Shaheen and Brown will face off Nov. 4 in a contest that will be among those that determine whether Republicans pick up the seats needed to win control of the US Senate.

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Joshua Miller can be reached at joshua.miller@globe.com or on Twitter @jm_bos.