When asked if they would rule out a presidential bid in 2024, two prominent Republican governors said they would not.
TOWN OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – New Hampshire’s governor, Chris Sununu, isn’t ruling out a candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
“Many people are seeking my help. Many people have encouraged me to run for office. We have dialogues, “On the eve of his inauguration for a fourth two-year term, Sununu told Fox News.
Sununu, who has stated he may consider running for president, said, “my first focus is New Hampshire,” but added, “we’ll keep having those talks.”
The governor won reelection by significant digits in November and has recently appeared on several national news programs and Sunday chat shows. He noted that there is still a whole year until the presidential nomination cycle begins in 2024, and he indicated that he had yet to set a timeline for his choice.
He predicted that “it will be long before people even get in the race.” “A sizable number of hopefuls will sit on the sidelines for their chance to enter. If they pay attention, they can figure out what happens to things. Check back on the political situation in the next six months or a year. What may happen in the interim is anyone’s guess.”
Sununu has his share of detractors while maintaining high popularity ratings in public opinion polls.
The governor made headlines last month when he ran digital commercials in Iowa and South Carolina, the first and third states to vote in the Republican presidential nomination calendar.
Longtime state Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley remarked, “Sununu’s emphasis has never been New Hampshire.” He has spent his whole professional life trying to increase his visibility on a national scale, and he has been refined by ignoring New Englanders in the process.
The right side of his position has also been hit by enemy fire.
Former Trump campaign manager and key advisor Corey Lewandowski have been an outspoken opponent, pointing to the fact that Sununu-endorsed candidates in many high-profile elections in New Hampshire and adjacent Massachusetts all lost in the primaries last year.
Lewandowski said that “everyone” had been defeated in the primary. His main point was that “Chris Sununu’s position is not strong enough in the Republican Party in New Hampshire.”
Still, in his appearance with Fox News, Sununu bragged about his accomplishments as governor of New Hampshire, “one of the most prosperous states in America. There has been a massive influx of new companies. People with kids are flooding in.”
Noting that “we’ve slashed taxes, we have these tremendous surpluses,” he praised the state’s budgetary responsibility.
Sununu made what seemed like a national stump speech, saying, “The process by which we’ve acquired our success can undoubtedly be a pattern throughout the country.” “That much is certain. People are captivated by the fact that I have accomplished all of this with no sales or income taxes, which is why I am frequently invited to speak at conferences and other events. Proceed to accumulate surpluses.”
The governor said that he would “be traveling quite a bit” in the coming months to continue promoting his achievements outside of New Hampshire.
Sununu was born into a powerful political dynasty. John H. Sununu Sr. was a three-term governor and then the chief of staff in the White House under President George H.W. Bush. John E. Sununu, one of his older brothers, served in Congress and the Senate.
Sununu has an impressive political resume, but his lack of fundraising prowess might derail a presidential bid.
A presidential candidacy being a possibility, the governor “does need funding since there is a brand, product, or message to be marketed. It’s a waste of time and energy for everyone involved if you don’t have the resources to make it happen.”
Sununu’s support for limited abortion rights is another potential liability should he run for the Republican presidential nomination.
Sununu stressed this after the conservative majority of the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade and returned the contentious issue of abortion law to the individual states: “Since the Supreme Court no longer has jurisdiction over the issue, I do not believe it to be a major factor on the national stage. The president has no control over this.”
Moreover, he stated that “Conservatives tend not to vote on just one topic. A few of them are. No problem there. However, Republicans aren’t primarily motivated by a particular topic.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is another Republican governor who won reelection in November by a vast majority and is seen as a possible White House candidate by political pundits.
When asked if she’s considering a run for president, Noem answered, “I’m focused on performing my job here in South Dakota.”
A day before being sworn in for a second term as governor, the governor told Fox News, “I’m focused here, but I’m going to continue telling South Dakota’s story.”
At the height of the coronavirus outbreak in 2020, Noem boasted, “we kept our state open.”
“Our budget is now in balance. During this legislative session, I want to propose and get the approval of the most extensive tax reduction in South Dakota’s history, “she said was added. “Our efforts ensured the safety of parental rights. Our educational reforms have been successful.
“Our state’s success is directly due to the conservative policies we’ve proposed and implemented. That tale can inspire the rest of the country, in my opinion.
Noem responded, “that’s fair to say,” when asked if she would consider running for president in 2024.
However, she did note, “there are a lot of individuals out there talking about running for president.” “I’m also aware of how rapidly politics evolves and how last-minute decisions might be made about candidates. What I’m looking for is a top-tier individual.
“We can’t continue with our current president. Having Joe Biden as vice president is a catastrophe. So, the Republican Party ought to focus where it belongs: on selecting a presidential nominee who can win.”