Former governor John H. Sununu officially endorsed Republican Donald Trump Tuesday, reversing course from last winter when he warned voters not to “drink the Trump Kool-Aid.”
Back then Sununu was saying Trump threatened to “ruin” the party and joined efforts to stop the businessman from locking up the GOP presidential nomination.
In a brief statement released by the Trump campaign Tuesday, Sununu said he now backs Trump and running mate Mike Pence.
“Donald Trump is the only candidate in this race who can bring bold change to Washington D.C.,” said Sununu, 77. “I support the Trump-Pence ticket for their pro-growth agenda and commitment to protecting American interests.”
Sununu, who served as a White House Chief of Staff under President George H.W. Bush, had previously been a vocal critic of Trump. In January, Sununu called Trump an “opportunist” and criticized the Republican’s “ignorance on the issue of our nuclear triad” in a Union Leader op-ed.
“Unless we nominate a Republican with a proven record of political success, we will hand the election to Hillary Clinton,” he wrote then.
By March, Sununu had joined an anti-Trump super PAC, according to Politico.
But none of those doubts were on display this week. Sununu introduced Pence at a campaign rally in Milford, and said naming the Indiana governor as his running mate was “the best thing Donald Trump has done in this campaign.”
Sununu’s endorsement comes on the heels of the first televised debate between Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. With it, Sununu becomes one of the most prominent New Hampshire Republicans to back the businessman’s candidacy.
Many former Republican office-holders from New Hampshire, including former U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey, have withheld support, or remained quiet on the nominee.
The state’s congressional delegation has offered varied versions of support. U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Sununu, Sununu’s son, endorse Trump. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte supports but does not endorse his candidacy.
(Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com.)