“Republicans for Harris” launches in New Hampshire

Local news

The New Hampshire initiative is part of a nationwide “Republicans for Harris” campaign.

This week, the Republicans for Harris campaign was launched in New Hampshire, targeting Republican voters in this swing state who are dissatisfied with former President Donald Trump and his platform.

Former Green Beret Jim Steiner is leading the campaign to elect Vice President Kamala Harris in New Hampshire. He is working with Claira Monier, a former Reagan administration official who served as the New Hampshire manager of Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign in 2012. Steiner said the Harris campaign team turned to him to mobilize Republican support for her in the swing state.

“It’s an important part of the campaign to mobilize all voters,” Steiner told Boston.com. “I think there are a lot of Republican voters who aren’t exactly enthusiastic about Donald Trump.”

Monier has “spent years campaigning for Republicans on every ballot in New Hampshire” and said the decision to support Harris was not “made lightly.”

“Donald Trump’s dangerous and divisive agenda is completely at odds with the conservative values ​​I have always fought to protect. That’s why I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in supporting Kamala Harris in November,” she said in a press release.

The local initiative is part of Harris’ national “Republicans for Harris” campaign – which is also supported by former Republican Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld – which aims to reach Republican voters across the country who are critical of Trump.

Steiner said his campaign team, which has been running for 72 hours, has already received calls and emails from people, including Republican elected officials in New Hampshire, who would like to join the cause.

“We are being approached by Republicans who say they would also like to help,” he said.

With President Joe Biden stepping down and endorsing Harris as the new Democratic nominee, many Republican voters are excited about her prospects, Steiner said. Steiner said he was also pleased with Harris’ announcement Tuesday of her nomination of Tim Walz as her running mate.

“There are many, many Republicans who may not have been happy about President Biden running for re-election, but I think the idea of ​​Vice President Harris gives them new momentum,” he said.

Nevertheless, Steiner said President Joe Biden took office after Trump’s presidency with the need to “restore respect for the office of the president around the world.”

“I think Vice President Harris has done essentially the same thing as vice president and will continue to do the same thing as president,” he said.

Steiner said he believes Biden made the “right decision” by resigning and that Republicans are more likely to vote for Harris.

“I think there was a measurable percentage of voters … who held their noses and said, ‘Well, I don’t want Donald Trump, but I’m not sure President Biden has the energy to get re-elected,'” he said. “Those people have found a comfortable new focus in Vice President Harris. She brings the energy.”

Steiner says Harris’ campaign will “change the momentum.”

“Harris is the right person in the right place at the right time and with the energy to win the presidential election,” he said.

When asked to respond to the move, New Hampshire Republican Chairman Chris Ager said in an email statement to Boston.com that Trump was “clearly the better choice.”

“The Republican Party has a big tent, but let’s be clear: We support free markets, less government, local control, individual responsibility and liberty, secure borders and strong Second Amendment rights,” Ager said. “Kamala Harris is wrong on these issues.”

Although Steiner disagrees with Harris on “many issues,” Steiner says the “importance of our democracy outweighs the political differences.” Trump, who did not win New Hampshire’s electoral votes in 2016 or 2020, has come under scrutiny for the authoritarian rhetoric surrounding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“I think the big picture is to keep our democracy as it is,” Steiner said. “Apart from the problems, the sanctity of our democracy is the most important thing.”