Hasta La Gadget!

WASHINGTON — Republican Senate challenger Scott Brown’s efforts to cast himself as a New Hampshire native went awry in his final debate against Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) on Thursday when a question on economic problems facing Sullivan County turned into a geography lesson.

WMUR’s James Pindell, a debate moderator, asked Brown and Shaheen to specify what is and isn’t working economically for Sullivan County, which is located in far western New Hampshire. Brown, who moved to New Hampshire after losing his Massachusetts Senate seat in the 2012 election, responded with broad talking points about the impact of Obamacare and high electricity rates, only to be interrupted twice by Pindell, who said Brown seemed confused about the location of the county in question.

James Pindell: I want to drill down to Main Street here in New Hampshire. You both live on the Seacoast, so let’s go to the western part of the state and let’s talk about Sullivan County. Sen. Brown, what do you see going right in the economy in Sullivan County, and what’s going wrong? And please be specific.

Scott Brown: You’re absolutely right — geography plays a role along the southern border. We have more jobs, more opportunity infrastructure and other opportunities up north are difficult. One of the biggest opportunities is tourism, one of the biggest opportunities are ski areas and trails for snowmobiles and I support those efforts. I know Sen. Shaheen references a tourist bill … The biggest wet blanket right now on the economy in that area is Obamacare, it’s also those notices people are getting, 50 to 100 percent increases on their electric rates … inspiring businesses to stay there is problematic with highest corporate tax rates in the industrialized world.

James Pindell: We’re talking about Sullivan County, and I think you were talking about the North Country. So what do you see is going well in Sullivan County or not?

Scott Brown: I’m not talking about any place past Concord, actually, and the challenges of our state. So I’m referring to the challenges including the high corporate tax rate, Obamacare coming in after the election. We also have the challenges of the high electric costs if you go to any business in any county in our state those are the very real challenges —

James Pindell: Sullivan County is west of Concord, it’s not north of Concord, Senator Brown. So what do you see going well and what’s not going well there?

Scott Brown: With respect, I’ve answered the question. The challenge is the same in every county in our state.

Watch the exchange in the video above.