DES MOINES — John Sununu, the former New Hampshire governor and George H.W. Bush White House chief of staff, has emerged as a top surrogate for the Romney campaign. His job lately has been to attack the surging Newt Gingrich. To a remarkable degree, Sununu’s critique of Gingrich is rooted in events of 21 years ago, when the first President Bush abandoned his famous “read my lips” promise never to raise taxes. What is striking is that Sununu supported — actually engineered — the Bush retreat, while Gingrich opposed it. Today, nearly all Republicans remember Bush’s decision as a disaster. Sununu’s position is hugely unpopular with Republicans who recall the episode, while Gingrich’s position is hugely popular. And yet Team Romney is making Sununu a central player in its case against Gingrich.
Just a few hours ago, the Romney campaign sent out a new attack on Gingrich, this one headlined SUNUNU: GINGRICH THREW CONSERVATIVES UNDER THE BUS. The press release highlights Sununu’s remarks Friday on conservative radio host Scott Hennen’s program.
