Republicans often site New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte as a rising star within the party and her recent success in high-profile criminal cases has only raised expectations.

Over the past two months, Ayotte's office has successfully tried two capital murder cases. In October, a jury convicted John Brooks of capital murder in a murder-for-hire case and recently Ayotte personally tried Michael Addison for the murder of Manchester police officer Michael Briggs.

On Thursday, Addison became the first person in the Granite State since 1939 to face the death penalty when a Manchester jury sentenced Addison to death for the Briggs murder. Even before the Addison conviction, Ayotte was often mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010 or a congressional candidate in the 2nd Congressional District.

"When and if Kelly Ayotte decides to run for office I think she would be a very formidable candidate because she has shown leadership as Attorney General," Republican political consultant Mike Dennehy told PolitickerNH.com. "I think this case epitomizes, and illustrates, the leadership she has. She has shown that throughout her tenure, but this clearly demonstrates her incredible leadership skills to take on extremely difficult situations."

Denney said that her resume would best fit a candidate for governor but added that she could run for any office she wants.

"I don't think it matters, I think whatever she runs for she'd be a great candidate. I think her resume fits best for governor but by no means does that limit her to that office," Dennehy said.

Scott Spradling, president of public affairs company The Spradling Group, said that Ayotte has become a historical figure in New Hampshire history.

"I don't think anyone wants to politically capitalize on anything as personal and emotional as this, but one thing these last two months highlight is that Kelly Ayotte is a historical figure in New Hampshire's law enforcement history and she has proven both with the Brooks trial and the Addison trial that she can get the job done," Spradling said.

Spradling, also the former political director of WMUR television station, said that Ayotte's political stock is rapidly rising.

"Her stock is incredibly high politically and her name has definitely been mentioned for running for major office. Expectations are high and her interest level is definitely there," Spradling said.

Spradling later added, "She can now basically write her own ticket to anything she wants to do."

However, former New Hampshire Attorney General Tom Rath advised against examining how the Addison case could politically affect Ayotte's future.

"I think folks are ill-advised to try calculate anything about Kelly's political future off this conviction," Rath said in an email to PolitickerNH.com. "I think she acted in the best traditions of the office-she did her job-pure and simple.  Whatever comes of that, so be it."

Rath also said that Ayotte acted "with total professionalism and commitment" during the trial.

"Given the stakes here and that it was a police officer who was murdered; it really behooved her as the chief law enforcement officer in the State to involve herself personally in this case.  As ever, she acted with total professionalism and commitment.  The results speak for themselves.  As a citizen and as an alumnus of that office, I am grateful for what she and her staff did here," Rath said.

Ayotte became the first female attorney general in New Hampshire's history when she was appointed to the position in 2004 by former Gov. Craig Benson.