New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has issued a pointed warning to his fellow Republicans, urging them to shift their strategy ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In a guest column for The New York Times and reported by Newsmax, Sununu cautioned against the current trend of personal attacks and character smears that have characterized some of the GOP’s recent rhetoric.
Sununu’s comments come at a crucial time as the party gears up for a fiercely contested election. He stressed the importance of focusing on substantive issues that resonate with independent voters, rather than engaging in derogatory rhetoric against Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
“We seem to have lost our focus,” Sununu remarked, expressing concern that the GOP’s recent tactics might alienate the independent voters who are essential for securing a victory in November. He noted that while personal attacks might energize the party’s base, they are unlikely to appeal to the broader electorate needed to win.
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Sununu highlighted the ineffectiveness of catchy one-liners and personal insults, such as calling Harris a “bum” or “bottom of the barrel.” He argued that these tactics, while potentially galvanizing for the GOP’s base, do little to build broader appeal. “Catchy one-liners—calling Vice President Harris a ‘bum,’ ‘not a serious person,’ and ‘bottom of the barrel’—might rile up the base, but they do little to connect with independent voters needed to close the deal in November,” Sununu wrote.
This call for a more issue-focused campaign comes in the wake of controversial comments made by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump about Harris. Although Sununu did not directly address Trump’s remarks, he pointed to the broader problem of personal attacks that could drive away potential supporters.
According to Sununu, many voters who might otherwise consider voting for Trump are put off by the personal attacks and are looking for substantive solutions instead. “They just want him to talk about solutions. It’s these voters who matter the most in determining who leads this country forward,” Sununu said.
Sununu also emphasized the importance of appealing to independent voters in battleground states, noting that these voters will be crucial in determining the election’s outcome. “When independent voters in battleground states—those who will determine the outcome of this election—turn on the TV, they see too many members of my party lobbing personal attacks at Ms. Harris,” he wrote. “It’s the worst kind of politics. It lowers the conversation and it plays into the Democrats’ narrative that this election is about political revenge for Mr. Trump. And more important, it reaps no reward.”
With less than 100 days remaining until Election Day, Sununu stressed the urgency of refocusing efforts on issues that matter to voters. “Any time spent on personal attacks or distracting rhetoric is not just time wasted; it’s time lost,” he warned. “Republicans must hold ourselves to a higher standard. It’s what American people deserve, and it’s good politics, too.”
Sununu’s plea for a strategic shift underscores a critical moment for the GOP as it navigates the final stretch of the campaign. The governor’s emphasis on unity and issue-based campaigning could be pivotal in shaping the party’s approach as the election approaches.
