New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race took center stage Monday night in a debate held at New England College in Henniker.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte is seeking her second term, challenged by Democrat Gov. Maggie Hassan.Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton figured into the debate – a race that's closely watched as it could help determine the makeup of the Senate.“My opponent is supporting Donald Trump who members of her own party say poses an absolute danger to our country's vital interests,” Hassan said.“First of all, I plan to vote for Donald Trump, but I’ve stood up to him on multiple occasions, whereas Gov. Hassan is lockstep with Secretary Clinton,” Ayotte responded.While Ayotte said she'll vote for Trump, she said she won't endorse him.She was also pressed on whether he's a role model for children.“I think that, certainly, there are many role models that we have, and I believe he can serve as president, and so absolutely I would do that,” Ayotte said.“What you just heard is Sen. Ayotte trying to distance herself from Donald Trump, which she does from time to time, but at the end of the day, she's going to vote to put him in the Situation Room with access to nuclear codes,” Hassan replied.After the debate, Ayotte issued a statement about her answer to the role model question."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," Ayotte said.The nominees also debated their differences of opinion on repealing vs. amending the Affordable Care Act, nominating a Supreme Court justice, and expanded background checks for gun buyers.“I fully support those who are too dangerous to get on a commercial flight, that they cannot not have a firearm, but we also have to create a mechanism for people who believe they're wrongfully on that list,” Ayotte said.“Sen. Ayotte has had multiple opportunities to make our country safer and to stand up to terrorists, to vote for an expanded background check bill that has had bipartisan support, and she has declined to do it,” Hassan said.The candidates also talked about the Ayotte campaign handing out condoms to college students this weekend. Ayotte said she did this to highlight her call for expanded access to birth control.“This is an idea to allow women to access birth control, with FDA approval and with safety and security in mind, over the counter,” she said.“But it would take away the requirement that insurance companies actually cover birth control,” Hassan countered.Reaction to Ayotte’s condom campaign tactic has been strong. Planned Parenthood said Ayotte has a record of obstructing birth control, while the Ayotte campaign said that is not true.