'Loser endorsing a loser!' Chris Sununu's endorsement of Nikki Haley for president draws flak

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced his endorsement of Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican primary on Tuesday night, December 12.

The endorsement took place in Manchester, New Hampshire, where Sununu addressed a standing-room-only crowd despite freezing temperatures.

Gov Chris Sununu's enthusiastic endorsement of Nikki Haley

Sununu expressed his enthusiastic support, declaring, "Let's get this thing. We are all in on Nikki Haley," in response to a question about his endorsement by a supporter outside the event.

He highlighted Haley's momentum, stating, "To see her out there, to see her connecting with folks, to feel that momentum—it is real and tangible. Now, there's a lot of work to do," as per ABC News.

Sununu subsequently took to X, formerly Twitter, to make the announcement official. "[Nikki Haley] is the candidate with the momentum to win and get our party back on track to delivering conservative victories across the country," he tweeted, “She’s answered our questions and built trust.”

“Proud to endorse Nikki Haley for President and hope you’ll join me in this movement!” he added.

Haley's press secretary also confirmed the endorsement through a succinct eight-second video on X, capturing the crowd's jubilant reaction at the town hall.

Despite the endorsement, Haley faces an uphill battle in polling, with 538's average placing her at nearly 19% support in New Hampshire, while the formidable Donald Trump leads at about 45%.

Sununu, known for being a vocal critic of Trump, acknowledged the necessity for new leadership, aligning with Haley's views.

The endorsement from Sununu, a respected figure in New Hampshire known for its independent-minded voters, may prove pivotal in closing the polling gap ahead of the state's January 23 primary.

"We gotta be able to move forward," he insisted on Tuesday night, echoing Haley's call for a shift away from Trump. Amidst the cheers and applause, Haley humorously addressed the crowd, asking, "I think all Manchester is here. The question is: Did they come for you or did they come for me?"

She went on to characterize Sununu's support as "about as rock solid of an endorsement as we could get," garnering nods of approval from the audience.

Some voters, like Christy Carlson from Merrimack, expressed the potential sway of Sununu's endorsement, stating, "I have a lot of faith in Sununu. So whoever he does get behind, that endorsement means a lot to me. That'll be big," as per ABC News.

Linda Webb from Wolfeboro echoed the sentiment, saying, "I have an enormous amount of respect for the governor, and I am hopeful."

Internet reacts to Chris Sununu endorsing Nikki Haley ahead of 2024 presidential election

However, many poked fun at Sununu's endorsement on social media.

"Loser endorsing a loser," one posted on X. "An endorsement from one warmonger to another," another offered.

"Wow. RINOs of the world unite!!" someone else quipped. "What a joke," a comment read.

"No one cares," another wrote.

Chris Sununu's endorsement of Nikki Haley could be a game-changer

Back in June, Sununu opted out of the presidential race, believing that a crowded field would benefit Trump. In recent weeks, various Republican hopefuls had been courting Sununu for his coveted endorsement. The list narrowed down to three governors: Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador during the Trump administration, has seen a steady increase in her poll numbers, according to 538. Despite this, she, along with other candidates like DeSantis, trails Trump by double digits nationally, despite the legal challenges facing the former president.

Adding to Haley's momentum, she recently secured the backing of Americans for Prosperity Action, a powerful political advocacy group supported by billionaire Charles Koch.

DeSantis, on the other hand, has garnered support from Iowa's Kim Reynolds, the governor of another crucial early-voting state, while Trump boasts a slew of endorsements, including from House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Responding to Sununu's expected endorsement, a spokesperson for Chris Christie downplayed its significance, stating, "This puts us down one vote in New Hampshire."

Meanwhile, DeSantis's spokesperson asserted that the true test of a Trump alternative would emerge in the results of Iowa, not New Hampshire, ABC News reported.

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