New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) urged former President Trump once more to tone down his rhetoric and concentrate on the current election, suggesting on Friday that Trump might need to “pivot a little bit” from personal attacks if his poll numbers continue to decline.
Sununu cautioned that failure to adjust his messaging could jeopardize Trump’s chances of winning the election. “Don’t miss the opportunity; that’s the message,” Sununu told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “Mastering the fundamentals of a campaign is crucial, and if he does that, he could win.”
Sununu notes that Harris’s poll numbers may peak soon, predicting potential benefits for Trump following RFK Jr.’s endorsement
According to Sununu, the election is Trump’s to lose. “If he fails, it’s on him,” the governor said. “Don’t complain about the election being stolen when we’ve laid out how he can win and he lets it slip away.”
Despite previously endorsing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, whom he supported before she suspended her campaign, Sununu believes Trump will adjust his strategy, noting Trump’s recent praise of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) as an indication of his concern about losing the Peach State to Vice President Harris. “Trump’s recent gestures toward Governor Kemp suggest he’s becoming more strategic,” Sununu observed.
Sununu also mentioned that he thinks Harris is experiencing peak poll numbers shortly after her campaign launch and the Democratic convention where she was officially nominated. His comments coincided with independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump, joining him at a rally in Arizona.
Sununu anticipated that Kennedy’s endorsement would benefit Trump by swaying independent and swing voters. “You’ll see that pendulum swing, offering more opportunities to Republicans,” Sununu predicted.
As Harris makes gains in key swing states, Sununu suggested that Trump’s declining poll numbers might prompt him to modify his approach. “Polling in swing states might push Trump to adapt his strategy,” Sununu said. “We’re already seeing signs of this change.”
Despite calls from Republicans to focus more on policy rather than personal attacks, Trump has intensified his personal critiques. At his rally in Glendale, Ariz., Trump defended his approach by referencing recent comments from former Presidents Obama and Michelle Obama. “They’re attacking me, and my team says I shouldn’t retaliate,” Trump said. “But if they’re personal with me, why shouldn’t I be personal with them?”
