Sununu: GOP candidates should avoid solely focusing on attacking.
Gov. Chris Sununu Urges Candidates to Showcase Policies and Personalities at RNC Debate
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) emphasized the importance of candidates displaying their policies and personalities on the Republican National Committee’s debate stage. He advised against simply going into “attack mode,” highlighting the significance of likability for candidates vying for second place in the intense GOP primary race, with former President Donald Trump leading the pack.
Key Factors for Debate Success
“You’ve got to explain where you are with your policy. Where you are with your background,” Sununu stated. “But you’ve got to go beyond that. It’s not just issue and policy-based. And it’s not just in attack mode, either. They’ve got to show that charm, that charisma, that likability. Likability is so important in a race like this.”
The New Hampshire governor emphasized the need for candidates to exude “charisma, charm, inspiration. Something exciting. Something fun. Something that people say, ‘Wow. That’s something I can get behind.'”
Sununu’s advice follows his recent op-ed in the New York Times, where he pledged to do “everything” he can to “help narrow” the Republican presidential primary field and prevent a second Trump presidency. He clarified that his endorsement is currently up for grabs.
“An Awesome Opportunity”
Regarding the upcoming debate, Sununu described it as “an awesome opportunity for all these candidates to stand up — not just to show that they deserve to be on the stage, but to show that they deserve to be the leader of the free world. That’s really the differentiator. People want someone that inspires them. Some charisma.”
While Trump has announced he will not be participating in the debate due to his significant lead over opponents, a majority of the Republican voter base believes he should take the stage and engage with other GOP contenders.
Sununu has stated that he will support the Republican candidate in 2024, even if it is Trump. However, he remains skeptical about the former president’s chances of returning to the White House, citing Trump’s presidential record and personal qualities.
Transitioning from Governorship
In July, Sununu announced that he would not seek reelection as New Hampshire’s governor, a position he has held since 2017. The gubernatorial race is already heating up, with former Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte and former state Senate President Chuck Morse running for the GOP, while Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and Executive Council Member Cinde Warmington are running as Democrats.
The RNC debate, moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum of Fox News, will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday night. The first debate will feature eight contenders: Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
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