Republican Senate nominee Don Bolduc said that he was attacked before his debate with Democrat Senator Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire on Wednesday evening, Boston 25 News reported.
Hassan is polling at 47 percent, which is well below the 50 percent threshold for an incumbent senator.
The retired US Army brigadier general’s campaign manager released a statement.
“As the general said on stage tonight, it’s time to lower the temperature of the political discourse in this country. Prior to the debate, an individual in the crowd gathered outside attempted to punch the general and was quickly apprehended and arrested. We are grateful to the quick response from law enforcement on the scene,” the campaign said.
According to video footage circulating online, Bolduc was among a cheering crowd of supporters outside the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on the Saint Anselm College campus late on Wednesday when the attacker, who hasn’t been identified, allegedly “hit” him.
“He hit me. He hit me,” Bolduc is heard shouting in the clip, although it is unclear from the video owing to law enforcement quickly apprehending the suspect and blocking the view.
Watch:
Don Bolduc is a veteran and retired US Army Sergeant who served his country for 33 years.
The New York Post reported:
Republican New Hampshire Senate candidate Don Bolduc dodged a punch from a would-be assailant before stepping onstage to debate Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on Wednesday, according to reports.
Bolduc, 60, a retired Army brigadier general, was apparently unharmed, and the individual who attempted to assault the Senate candidate was arrested, according to his campaign.
“As the general said on stage tonight, it’s time to lower the temperature of the political discourse in this country. Prior to the debate, an individual in the crowd gathered outside attempted to punch the general and was quickly apprehended and arrested,” a Bolduc campaign spokesperson told Boston 25 News.
“We are grateful to the quick response from law enforcement on the scene,” the spokesperson added.
Hassan’s campaign denounced the attack.
“Disgusting behavior. We saw this same libertarian party activist get aggressive with our campaign volunteers at this debate and the last,” Kevin Donohoe said.
