Watching the hour-long discussion and question-answer session between Ovide Lamontagne and Maggie Hassan last Wednesday, we were more impressed than ever with Lamontagne’s approach to issues and questions. It is a reassuring indication of how the Manchester lawyer and businessman will tackle the formidable task that lies ahead for New Hampshire’s next governor.

Lamontagne recognizes that the fiscal mess left by Hassan (then a state senator) and her Democratic colleagues has not been entirely wiped away by the admirable work done in the last Legislature, when Republicans took control and made difficult choices.

Hassan is all about “restoring cuts.” Her idea to pay for this grand restoration is to first trumpet that she is an anti-taxer and then to say we will need a “conversation” about raising many taxes, including the gasoline tax, toll road taxes and cigarette taxes.

Hassan, who was for a state income tax before she was against one, also felt the need to distort the record, claiming that the Business and Industry Association backed her in creating a tax on limited liability corporations. (The BIA made clear it had done no such thing.) And Hassan also distorted Lamontagne’s position, claiming he had signed a pledge to do away with ANY government role in health insurance.

Through it all, Lamontagne sat quietly, politely listened, and when called upon calmly batted away the distortions and explained his plans to help, rather than hinder, the private sector in job creation.

Tellingly, Lamontagne also made it clear in reply to Hassan’s partisan attacks that he would check his political affiliation at the State House door when it came to working with any and all Granite Staters be they independents, Democrats, libertarians, etc., in tackling the big problems that face us.

It was a reassuring hour. Lamontagne is the real deal.