DeSantis defends centrist GOP Gov. Chris Sununu from Trump criticism amid campaign reboot
Julia Johnson
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The effects of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) campaign reboot became clearer on Tuesday as he moved to defend Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) from former President Donald Trump’s criticisms.
After a publicized campaign reboot that was initiated last month, DeSantis’s staff was cut by roughly a third, and ultimately, his campaign manager was replaced. However, it remained relatively unclear what shifts in strategy would take place.
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This was reinforced on Tuesday when DeSantis stood up for the popular New Hampshire governor, who has often criticized Trump.
Trump had called Sununu a “selfish, selfish guy” who “never helped” him.
“I disagree with Donald Trump’s attacks on Gov. Chris Sununu,” DeSantis told New England reporters on Tuesday.
“I think New Hampshire is the best-governed state in New England. I think Chris has done a great job up there and you can see with the fact that people flee to New Hampshire, just like people flee to Florida, whether it’s to escape crime, high taxes, you name it,” he added.
https://twitter.com/DeSantisWarRoom/status/1691531545121640449?s=20
Besides being one of the most popular governors in the country, Sununu is known for his relatively centrist approach to policy. For example, Sununu supports legal abortion in most cases.
The New Hampshire governor has been a longtime critic of DeSantis’s Disney feud, as well as the prioritization of cultural issues. “You don’t penalize a private business because they disagree with you politically,” he said of DeSantis’s actions against Disney in March.
DeSantis now appears to be heeding some of Sununu’s guidance following the campaign’s reboot.
The Florida Republican further noted to reporters, “As Republicans, we should be supporting Republican governors whether it’s Kim Reynolds in Iowa or Chris Sununu in New Hampshire when they can get elected with big victories and then deliver.”
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This marks a stark contrast between himself and GOP front-runner Donald Trump, who has poor relations with both governors.
DeSantis’s praise for Sununu also comes on the same day new polling in the Granite State showed former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie surpassing the Florida governor in primary support. The survey showed Trump as the front-runner with a significant double-digit lead at 49% and Christie in second place with 9% — a departure from his meager polling elsewhere. DeSantis received just 8%, which is substantially less than both national polling and data from other states.