Telling GOP presidential candidates to attack 76-year-old President Donald Trump, 48-year-old New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu showed why he’d wasting his time-and-money considering a 2024 run for president. Sununu, who presides over a state with 1.39 million population, smaller in size than many mid-size American cities, calls on GOP candidates to attack Trump. Sununu has no clout in the Republican Party, other than offering himself up, like former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, as a GOP peacemaker, but having no chance of surviving any run for president, including in hi own home state. Sununu is another RINO, Republican in Name Only, joining the ranks of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Ut.) and other Trump haters, thinking that it wins him support. But Sununu has almost no support in the GOP, nor are his prospects in a crowded GOP field anything but mediocre.
Sununu says he’s considering a 2024 run but has no mega-donors or even minor donors willing to support his campaign. Unlike 24-year-old Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Sununu has no deep pockets behind him. Sununu calls on all GOP candidates to attack Trump in a foolish exercise, only lending Trump to more publicity at a time when the DeSantis launch carries considerable interest with the anti-Trump crowd. DeSantis got his start as Florida governor in 2018 with Trump’s endorsement, making it look like he’s an ingrate running for president against Trump. Yet with DeSantis, despite his conservative stands on immigration, gun control and abortion, he’s got the anti-Trump wing of the Republican Party excited about his run. Sununu knows the New York Times wants Trump to wind the GOP nomination, thinking in would give Biden the best shot of getting four more years.
Sununu doesn’t get that 2024 presidential candidates aren’t helped by attacking Trump, only fueling more publicity to Trump. New York Times said today that DeSantis is hopelessly behind Trump, after only three days on the campaign trail. DeSantis hasn’t begun to mount a vigorous campaign, letting early primary voters in Iowan, South Carolina and New Hampshire to get to know him. Sununu doesn’t get that only selling yourself to primary or caucus voter can you consider beating Trump or anyone else. Attacking Trump gets candidates nowhere, only showing they’re running scared, like 52-year-old former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or 56-year-old Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who’s campaign barely got off the ground. When it comes to wind bags like 60-year-old former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who, like Sununu, hasn’t yet announced for 2024, he likes to take shots at Trump.
Sununu polls about the same as Haley or Christie, well under 5%, not going to get the job done with GOP primary voters. Even if 2024 primary voters want a fresh face, what good is it to disparage former President Trump? “All Republicans have to be hitting Donald Trump,” Sununu said to the New York Times. “Any Republican that isn’t hitting Donald Trump hard right now is doing the entire party a disservice because if only one or two people are willing to take a shot at Donald Trump, it looks personal. It looks petty,” Sununu said. New York Times likes to quote anti-Trump Republicans because it brings in more readers. Whether in broadcast or print, Trump’s a lightening rod for more publicity. Sununu shows he doesn’t have a clue what it takes to generate a following, certainly not hitting Trump. Everyone knows Trump’s negatives so why waste your time slamming Trump?
Sununu should follow DeSantis who’s taken more shots from Trump than anyone other GOP candidate. DeSantis gets Trump’s ire because Trump sees him as a legitimate competitive rival, not Haley, Scott, Christie or Sununu. Trump directs his ire at DeSantis because he knows DeSantis has the GOP donor class behind him. Sununu has no one behind him, trying to position himself as a Kacich-like option. But GOP primary voters are attracted to outspoken, charismatic candidates, not someone who only likes to take random snipes at candidates. DeSantis entering the race changes the dynamic of having only Trump appealing to his large GOP base. Whether Sununu admits it or not, Trump is the GOP’s most exciting campaigner, mesmerizing audiences whether or not he’s despised by certain anti-Trump Republicans. GOP voters, not GOP attacks on Trump, will decide the nominee.
Sununu’s advice caters to the corrupt New York Times that spent years writing fake stories about Trump’s alleged ties to the Kremlin. Sununu doesn’t have a clue how the Times exploits any Republicans willing to attack Trump. When it comes to running for president, Sununu knows he doesn’t have a prayer, polling well under 5%. When it comes to Trump, DeSantis has it right, not reacting to Trump’s attacks, giving the liberal press red meat to fuel more controversy. Sununu’s advice to GOP candidates would boomerang, violating President Ronald Reagan’s adage “to not attack fellow Republicans.” “ He is going to be seen as a very extreme candidate. The country is going to push back against it,” Sununu told ABC a while back. DeSantis has it right not responding to Trump’s attacks, patiently waiting for Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland to charge Trump for the Mar-a-Lago classified docs scandal.
About he Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
