New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is calling on Republicans to "stop the trash talk" leading up to November, arguing such attacks will do little to shore up support for the GOP ticket.
"As Donald Trump and my fellow Republicans navigate the next steps of their campaigns, my message to them is this: The path to victory in November is not won through character attacks or personal insults," Sununu wrote Thursday in an op-ed published by The New York Times.
Sununu argued the "catchy one-liners" against Vice President Harris, including labelling her as a "bum," "not a serious person," and "bottom of the barrel," do not connect with the independent voters who could be crucial to the election.
"Independent voters are independent for a reason," the governor wrote. "They are not driven to the polls by personal attacks. Candidates need to give them a reason to turn out and vote."
Both Democrats and Republicans have fired off a barrage of attacks at their political rivals, especially at the presidential level. Sununu called out remarks by former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), and Harris, who became the likely Democratic nominee after President Biden withdrew from the race last month.
Some Republicans labelled Harris as a "DEI" hire — pointing to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — while others have gone after her laugh.
"Politicians usually don’t lose votes for laughing or smiling too much," Sununu continued. "Attacks like those waged against Vice President Kamala Harris are unserious and don’t meet the moment that American families find themselves in."
Voters are connected through addressing issues and concerns and when they are shown "real empathy," the Granite State governor said.
Sununu, who said he would support Trump after former UN ambassador Nikki Haley suspended her campaign, acknowledged the Democrats are also levying their own attacks against Republicans — pointing to the Harris campaign's rhetoric that the GOP ticket is led by "weird" people. He also nodded to the controversy surrounding Vance's "childless cat ladies" remark from 2021 that has reentered the conversation as of late.
Instead of the attacks, Sununu urged the GOP to focus on issues he claims are a product of the Biden-Harris administration.
"The Democrats have a record to answer for," he wrote, adding, "Mr. Trump has a record of accomplishments he can focus on that will earn him votes."
"With less than 100 days to go until Election Day, any time spent on personal attacks or distracting rhetoric is not just time wasted, it’s time lost," he concluded. "Republicans must hold ourselves to a higher standard. It’s what American people deserve, and it’s good politics, too."
