Gov. Sununu: I’m Considering the 2024 Presidential Race

SUNUNU: “Oh, I don’t have a timeline. I mean, obviously, folks are talking about it, but I really don’t have a timeline. I’m spending a lot of time nationally trying to grow the party, as Republicans, talk to independents, talk to the next generation of potential Republican voters that right now no one is really reaching out to. But I think we have a lot of hope and optimism and a way to kind of want them to be on our team. And they should want to be on our team. It’s not just about the negativity that you see in the media and the press and that they have kind of been inundated with. It really is about good government. And I’m trying to — I think we have done that really well in New Hampshire, trying to bring that a little bit to the table. And then, down the road, if that leads into something bigger, so be it.”

BASH: “So you’re considering it?”

SUNUNU: “Yeah.”

BASH: “When do other people, whether it’s you or anybody else, need to get in? Because he’s the only declared candidate, former President Trump.”

SUNUNU: “Well, yeah, I mean, obviously, DeSantis and Trump are the two candidates, right? So, whether you’ve declared or not — “

BASH: “Well, he hasn’t — well, he has not declared.”

SUNUNU: “Okay, not publicly declared, but he has hundreds of millions of dollars because, obviously, Ron DeSantis is looking to run for president, which is fine. And he would probably win New Hampshire right now, without a doubt. I think other candidates will look to get in this spring or into the summer. I’m surprised other candidates, I think a lot of us, aren’t doing better, right? And there’s great candidates there, Mike Pence, and Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo.”

BASH: “Mike Pence wasn’t even on the list.”

SUNUNU: “Yeah, I don’t — I didn’t see the poll, to be honest. But — but, no, I’m surprised some of those aren’t — some of those — “

BASH: “But do you think they’re — that you all, you who are considering — and I’m putting you in that category, because you just said you are — aren’t doing better because you’re not more forward-leaning, because you’re not declared?”

SUNUNU: “Oh, yes, I’m surprised I’m on that poll at all, frankly, but — because we haven’t really been talking about that. I think there’s a lot of hope and opportunity for good candidates to get in, drive the message where it needs to be. But the discipline is getting out too, the discipline in saying, ‘Look, you’re only polling at 5 percent, you got to get out. We don’t want a crowded field here.’ And as kind of the referee of the first-in-the-nation primary, I will have some opportunity there to pull some levers and really make sure that we’re holding the candidates accountable. Make a good run at it, but if it ain’t happening, you got to pull out and leave it down to the two, three or four candidates.”