Chuck Morse in 2024 NH Governor's race

On Drugs: Eliminate the source, at the border, with more police

That means ensuring that the 70 open State Police positions are filled. Addressing the actual opioid crisis, he said, should be done through economics. "I think that comes with creating opportunities in this state. So people all have a chance to make a living and have a good life."

On Education: Expand education freedom accounts

Morse said the state's recent efforts to broaden school choice, both through the increase of charter schools and vouchers, would strengthen the state's existing public schools. "Because it just makes people compete for the child for the right reasons," he said. "And I think that's a good thing."

On Families & Children: A strong economy helps daycare, not worker pay

The Republicans, Morse and Ayotte, were more circumspect. Morse said his focus was to build on the school policies enacted under Gov. Sununu and to create state budgets that foster prosperity.

What about on the daycare front? Well, all of them acknowledged that daycare workers probably need to get paid more money, but some, Morse most emphatically, said there was little the state could do directly to affect that, other than having a stronger economy. For Chuck Morse, it's clear that all policies, including those dealing with child well-being, tie directly back to the state budget.

Ayotte, meanwhile, seemed to be pretty attuned to who was in the audience, mostly people in the child care and education fields.

On Homeland Security: Limit use of National Guard as provided by Constitution