Sununu endorses Bush in New HampshireBy Beth Fouhy/CNN
January 28, 2000
Web posted at: 3:23 p.m. EST (2023 GMT)
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (CNN)-- Former New Hampshire Gov. and White House Chief of Staff John Sununu endorsed Texas Gov. George W. Bush for president Friday, saying a Bush victory is crucial to the conservative cause.
Sununu helped deliver New Hampshire to Bush's father in 1988 after the
elder Bush suffered a bruising third place finish in the Iowa caucuses that
year. Sununu went on to become President George Bush's chief of staff
until he was forced to resign after controversy erupted over news that he had
taken numerous flights on government planes for personal business.
Sununu, also a former co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," had chaired Dan Quayle's presidential bid until the former vice president dropped out of the race earlier this year.
In accepting the endorsement, Gov. Bush called Sununu "an important
friend to my mother and father and a good friend to me as well."
"When you have to make a decision, you evaluate who will be the best
leader. George Bush is that leader," Sununu told reporters. "I know the numbers
aren't where he wants them to be today but with conservative help, he will be
able to win New Hampshire."
Bush has been trailing Sen. John McCain in recent polls.
Sununu said Bush is attempting to reach every New Hampshire voter. "This
is the 'see me, touch me, feel me' campaigning at its best," he said.
Bush joked that Sununu's endorsement was "up there with Carlton Fisk's"
endorsement. Fisk, a New Hampshire native voted recently into baseball's Hall
of Fame, appeared with Bush on Thursday night in Amherst to endorse him.
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