Retiring Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is scheduled to host a fundraising lunch Wednesday for former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte), who the National Republican Senatorial Committee recruited to run for his open seat in 2010.

Some New Hampshire Republicans have criticized Ayotte for being handpicked by Senate Republicans to run for Gregg’s seat, so Ayotte has been careful not to appear as the establishment candidate — even declining to ask NRSC Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) for an endorsement.

Since her announcement this summer, several Republicans — the most prominent of which is 1996 gubernatorial nominee Ovide Lamontage — have announced they will run for the seat in next September’s primary as well.

Although Gregg has not officially endorsed Ayotte, this is not the first time he has asked his donors to help her out. Gregg penned a fundraising letter last month asking donors to give to the candidate he described as a “common sense, conservative voice from New Hampshire.”