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U.S. NEWS Monday 20 august 2018

Avenatti visits New Hampshire as he considers 2020 bid

Rob Wolfe that (Democrats) have
GREENFIELD, N.H. (AP) — a tendency to bring nail
An attorney who has be- clippers to a gunfight,”
deviled President Donald said. Avenatti, who has
Trump during the past gained notoriety for as-
year over his personal re- sailing Trump using the
lationships and immigra- president’s favored me-
tion policies made a presi- dium, Twitter. Speaking to
dential pitch of his own to reporters later, Avenatti
Democratic voters in New addressed some Demo-
Hampshire on Sunday. crats’ concerns about
Michael Avenatti, who adopting Trump’s tactics,
represents adult film ac- arguing that a successful
tress Stormy Daniels in her challenger must be able
case against Trump, told to counter the president’s
the Hillsborough County provocations. He praised
Democrats that he was Hillary Clinton’s resume
considering matching and character, but not-
Trump’s confrontational ed that she lost the 2016
style with his own pugilistic election despite being the
brand in a 2020 presiden- most qualified candidate
tial run. “in U.S. history.”
“When they go low, we Avenatti was not the only
hit harder,” Avenatti said, politician at Sunday’s
modifying a former first gathering to use Trump
lady Michelle Obama slo- as a motivator for voters.
gan. Democratic candidates
Avenatti acknowledged from county commissioner
that some of the roughly up to governor sought to
200 voters at the outdoor tie local Republicans to
barbecue might be think- the president.
ing, “What is some porn Steve Marchand, a for-
lawyer doing here today?” mer mayor of Portsmouth
But, he added, “As you all running for governor, said
know, these are anything the Republican incum-
but usual times.” bent, Chris Sununu, was
Democrats today, he said, linked to Trump “by com-
are fighting for “nothing plicity” with his policies on
short of the survival of our immigration, voter rights
republic.” and education. Molly
Tracing his background, Kelly, a former state sena-
Avenatti said he had tor also competing in the
grown up in Missouri with- Democratic gubernato-
out a “golden toilet” — an rial primary, tied Sununu
allusion to the Trump fam- to Education Secretary
ily’s wealth — and was the Betsy DeVos through their
first in his family to gradu- support for an education-
ate from college. al voucher system, which
As a trial lawyer, he said, Kelly said “weakens public
he represented “Davids” education and . will raise
against “Goliaths” — and property taxes.”
still does now, he said, with Voters on hand appeared
his advocacy for Daniels, cautiously taken with Av-
who says she was coerced enatti, who received a
into staying silent about celebrity reception after
her alleged relationship arriving Sunday afternoon,
with Trump, and for im- stopping every few feet for
migrant families separat- a selfie photo as he slowly
ed by the White House’s made his way through an
crackdown on asylum energized crowd.
seekers at the border. Kathy Boyer, a former law
Avenatti has put a toe in firm clerk from Amherst,
the 2020 race, posting a said she liked Avenatti’s
platform on Twitter and re- message and hoped he
cently visiting Iowa, anoth- would prove a viable can-
er key primary state that didate, despite never hav-
he will soon visit again. On ing held political office.
Sunday, he said he was “People said the same
still seriously considering thing about Donald
whether to run. Trump,” she said. “Look
But “what I fear most. is what happened.”q