Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire on Tuesday threw his help behind Nikki Haley’s 2024 presidential bid, giving the previous U.S. ambassador to the United Nations a possible increase greater than a month from the state’s first-in-the-nation major.
Mr. Sununu mentioned Ms. Haley, who additionally served as governor of South Carolina, is finest positioned to cease former President Donald Trump from successful the GOP presidential nomination and to guide the get together to victory subsequent yr.
“This is an opportunity for New Hampshire to lead this country, for New Hampshire to say we’re not looking in the rearview mirror anymore,” Mr. Sununu mentioned at a city corridor occasion in Manchester.
He additionally had a direct message for Mr. Trump, thanking him for his service however saying, “Mr. President, we’re moving on.
“This is New Hampshire, and we go forward,” Mr. Sununu mentioned.
Mr. Sununu steps in as Ms. Haley’s largest surrogate in New Hampshire, the place she has climbed within the polls.
She is betting {that a} stronger-than-expected end within the Jan. 23 New Hampshire major can shake up the race.
Ms. Haley’s marketing campaign instantly blasted out a fundraising e-mail, trying to money in on the information.
“This is a monumental endorsement and we couldn’t be more proud to have earned his support,” the Haley marketing campaign mentioned. “Right now, all eyes are on Nikki’s campaign, and with just over a month left until voting begins, we need your support now more than ever.
Ms. Haley also recently received the backing of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity, adding to the sense that she has momentum.
Mr. Trump, however, mocked the idea she is gaining steam, saying it is “FAKE NEWS!”
“Where’s the surge? Nikki and Ron are losing ground, not gaining ground,” Mr. Trump mentioned Tuesday on Truth Social. “I’m beating them by record numbers, 50 and 60 points. The only surge is that she is inching up on him for second place.”
The most up-to-date ballot out of New Hampshire — performed by The Washington Post and Monmouth University final month — discovered Ms. Haley operating second, 18%, behind Mr. Trump at 46%. Former New Jersey Gov. Christie (11%), businessman Vivek Ramaswamy (8%) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (7%) rounded out the highest spots.
Mr. Sununu had been mulling over an endorsement for weeks and had thought of backing Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Christie. The governor just isn’t a fan of Mr. Ramaswamy, the previous biotech investor who’s operating a Trump-inspired marketing campaign.
Mr. Ramaswamy final month downplayed the impression of Mr. Sununu’s help, saying he’s the “face of the establishment” and his endorsement is the “kiss of death to whichever candidate gets it, and so I will be dodging that.”
Mr. Sununu’s endorsement highlights the battle anti-Trump Republicans have had uniting behind a single various to Mr. Trump. Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa, who is also beloved amongst Republicans in her state, got here off the sidelines weeks in the past to endorse Mr. DeSantis.
Mr. Christie, in the meantime, has confronted mounting questions over whether or not he’s boosting Mr. Trump’s possibilities by sticking within the race.
The query now could be whether or not both of the endorsements issues in a race that Mr. Trump has dominated.
An NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom ballot of Iowa voters launched this week confirmed Mr. Trump with a 30-point lead over his closet rivals.
It additionally discovered that 54% of doubtless caucusgoers mentioned Ms. Reynolds’ backing of Mr. DeSantis won’t affect their vote, and 31% mentioned it makes them extra prone to vote for the Florida Republican.
* This story is predicated partially on wire studies.
