New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has narrowed his endorsement choices in the Republican primary to three key candidates: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Sununu’s endorsement, especially as the leader of the first primary state, holds significant weight in the Republican Party.
Sununu has been openly critical of Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and first-time candidate.
“He doesn’t have the temperament to handle the stresses of a public executive position,” Sununu said, dismissing Ramaswamy as a “poor choice” for president.
Sununu also highlighted Ramaswamy’s lack of public sector experience, saying, “He doesn’t know how to run anything, he has no understanding of how to work in the public sphere.”
Regarding the top contenders for his endorsement, Sununu has lauded DeSantis for his understanding of accountability and effective retail politics. Sununu spoke highly of Haley’s political skills, her ability to stand up for herself and her personable and energetic approach, saying, “Talk about a fighter, right? I mean, I think a lot of folks saw it in the first and second debate.”
The recent debate performances have influenced Sununu’s decision, with Haley and Christie performing well in his view. Sununu also noted DeSantis did very well. However, he described Ramaswamy’s debate performance as “a bit embarrassing” and accused him of appearing “unhinged, unfocused,” especially in his interactions with Haley.
The race for the Republican nomination remains open, with Sununu stating that “There’s two or three, maybe even four candidates here that are really running strong.” DeSantis has actively sought Sununu’s endorsement, praising his governance of New Hampshire and distancing himself from Donald Trump’s criticisms of Sununu. Sununu has emphasized the importance of candidates engaging directly with voters, previously urging DeSantis to increase his grassroots efforts in key states like New Hampshire and Iowa.
Sununu plans to announce his endorsement after Thanksgiving.
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