Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu this week endorsed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as more and more Granite State Republicans come home to their party nominee, despite his considerable baggage.
“Donald Trump is the only candidate in this race who can bring bold change to Washington, D.C.,” Sununu said in a statement released by the Trump campaign on Tuesday. “I support the Trump-Pence ticket for their pro-growth agenda and commitment to protecting American interests.”
The 77-year-old Sununu, who served as White House chief of staff to George H.W. Bush, had previously warned about drinking the “Trump Kool-Aid,” writing in an op ed in the Union Leader in January, “Donald Trump’s foreign policy statements would be considered ludicrous by his supporters if they could only allow themselves to ignore the cult of personality and simply think about what he says.”
His about-face drew scorn Wednesday from MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, the former Republican congressman from Florida who is part of the “never-Trump” crowd.
Scarborough recalled that Sununu had complained during the primary cycle that the media was giving Trump too much attention, and now is in the Trump camp.
“He’s got the character and backbone of Ted Cruz,” Scarborough said of Sununu, equating him with the Texas senator and former bitter Trump rival who also recently endorsed the New York developer.
Sununu’s son, Chris, of course, needs those Trump voters in his bid for governor against Democrat Colin Van Ostern, and the younger Sununu has already said he is backing the GOP nominee.
Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was campaigning with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at University of New Hampshire on Wednesday, trying to increase what appears to be tepid support from younger voters.
“I am here today to ask you not only to vote for Secretary Clinton but to work hard,” Sanders said at the rally.
Trump is slated to campaign in Bedford, N.H., today.
Former state Rep. Paul Mirski, R-Enfield, a former supporter of Rand Paul, said in a phone interview on Wednesday that he is comfortable voting for Trump.
“I have no problems voting for Trump. I think if you take away the hype and you actually look at his personal achievements, it’s a little hard to say he’s an incompetent person,” Mirski said.
Mirski, an architect, also said he feels Trump would help spur investment. “We’re not growing in any way, shape or form that is healthy,” Mirski said. “There’s this really soggy feeling about everything.”
Grafton County is seeing lots of races on the ballot. Register of Deeds Kelley Monahan is once again being challenged by former Register of Deeds Bill Sharp, whom she defeated in a 2010 Democratic primary.
Now a Republican, the 74-year-old Sharp, a Lebanon resident, last year sent around an email asserting that President Obama is a “Muslim in the White House” who is “calling in plays for the other team.” Sharp on Wednesday also said he continues to believe that Obama, who is Christian, was born in Kenya, despite overwhelming proof that he was born in Hawaii.
“Whether he was born in Kenya or not, that’s not the point,” said Sharp, who sought to turn the subject back to registry fees. “The point is the president of the United States has done everything possible to support the Muslim cause, including bringing Muslims to this country without being vetted.”
Monahan, who was juggling a lengthy dental appointment on Wednesday with a campaign appearance in Plymouth that evening, said via email that she had no comment on her opponent. The register of deeds job will pay $59,264 next year.
In other races, two well-regarded political activists are running for the part-time, $6,570 Grafton County treasurer job, an open seat which involves investing county funds and signing paychecks. Lebanon City Councilor Karen Liot Hill, a Democrat who runs a diner in the city, is running against Haverhill Republican Barb Dutile, a longtime sheriff’s deputy and Grafton County Republican stalwart.
Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean stuck his foot in it, tweeting out during Monday night’s debate, “Notice Trump sniffing all the time. Coke user?” Dean didn’t backtrack in a television interview on Tuesday, but top Democratic strategist David Axelrod said he had crossed the line, saying in his own tweet, “I love (Dean). But this is nuts.”
The three Democrats running for Windsor County Senate — Dick McCormack, Alice Nitka and Alison Clarkson — are holding a meet-and-greet Tuesday night at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will headline an event open to the general public hosted by Hanover Democrats on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Richard W. Black Center on Lebanon Street.
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John Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com.