DeSantis praises Chris Sununu after New Hampshire governor endorses Haley
DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu backing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley for president in 2024 at a CNN town hall Tuesday night.
“Haley is the candidate with the momentum to win and get our party back on track to delivering conservative victories across the country,” Sununu said Tuesday. “She’s answered our questions and built trust. Proud to endorse Nikki Haley for President and hope you’ll join me in this movement!”
CNN host Jake Tapper asked the Sunshine State governor his reaction to the endorsement. DeSantis hit the campaign trail in New Hampshire recently with Sununu, and the Granite State governor signed the bus of a pro-DeSantis super PAC.
“Well, unlike some people running, if someone doesn’t endorse me, I’m not going to go trash them,” DeSantis said, tossing shade at former President Donald Trump. “Chris is a good guy. He’s done a good job. And I’m going to continue to say he’s good. He’s a really good campaigner. I mean, excellent campaigner.”
The Florida governor called Sununu’s backing of Haley a “benefit for her.”
“Even a campaigner as good as Chris – is not going to be able to paper over Nikki being an establishment candidate,” DeSantis said. “She’s getting funded by liberal Democrats from California, like the a founder of LinkedIn. People on Wall Street like the head of JP Morgan.”
“Guess what, guys – those folks do not want to see conservative change in this country,” he said. “So why are they gravitating to her? […] She’s really reflective of the old, failed Republican establishment of yesteryear.”
“Chris is a great – he’s done a great job as governor. He’s a great campaigner, and I look forward to campaigning with him next fall in New Hampshire as the Republican nominee,” DeSantis said.
While thriving off the split field in the GOP primary, Trump’s campaign pointed to Sununu saying Wednesday morning that he wants voters of all parties, including Democrats, to vote for Haley in the New Hampshire primary.
“If everybody that can vote comes out and votes, there’s no doubt that Nikki Haley is gonna win this thing,” Sununu said alongside Haley in Concord Wednesday morning.
According to the current RealClearPolitics polling average of the New Hampshire GOP presidential primary, Trump leads with nearly 45% of the vote, Haley trails with around 19%, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has 13% and DeSantis has 9%.
Nationally, Trump leads the field by 48% in the same metric, on average, with nearly 61% national support. DeSantis and Haley were found to be statistically tied just over 12% nationally.
The New Hampshire primary takes place Jan. 23.
