Candidate Binnie touts his business background

The Plastics Blog is watching U.S. Senate races that involve plastics industry executives. Today the focus is on New Hampshire, where Bill Binnie is picking up steam thanks, in part, to his business background. Binnie, the founder of Carlisle Plastics Inc. -- once a major film extruder, blow molder and injection molder -- is one of two leading candidates seeking the GOP nomination. He's running against former state attorney general Kelly Ayotte. According to a feature from Politico.com, Binnie is playing up his experience creating jobs -- contrasting it with Ayotte's career as a prosecutor -- while doing his best to steer the debate toward the economy. "Entrepreneur Bill Binnie, who amassed millions by creating a company that manufactured trash bags, coat hangers and plastic sheeting, has emerged as the top challenger to Ayotte ahead of the Granite State's Sept. 14 primary," the Politico story says. "Even Republicans supportive of his rivals are now quietly acknowledging he's well-positioned for an upset." Binnie told Politico: "Kelly Ayotte has been a successful prosecutor. I don't think she's ever had 50 or 100 employees working for her. I don't think she's ever created a job, or met a payroll or started a business from scratch." That's the sort of pitch that might appeal to small business owners and managers -- the grassroots of the GOP. Will it be enough to win the primary, and the general election? Stay tuned.