By Guy Page
The GOP needs a single challenger to Donald Trump, and it can’t happen soon enough, Gov. Phil Scott told the media today.
Vermont Public’s Bob Kinzel asked when the GOP will narrow the field of presidential challengers to frontrunner Donald Trump down to one person.
“There will be eventually. Maybe not soon enough,” Scott said. “But they’re getting there. It seems like they’re coming down to [Florida Gov. Ron] Desantis, [Nikki] Haley, and [Chris] Christie – with Christie on the outside.”
Kinzel asked which was his favorite.
“I like Chris Christie for a lot of reasons, but I like Nikki Haley as well. I know both of them. “She’s got a lot of compassion, but she’s run a state, so she knows how to balance a budget. But I can say that about Chris Christie as well.”
He added that Haley’s “been on the worldwide stage.”
Not that any of the candidates have asked for his endorsement. “They’re probably worried it would hurt their chances,” he said with a laugh.
Scott himself has not decided whether he’s running for re-election.
Other news from the press conference:
In a discussion of flood recovery, Scott said the Pavilion building, housing the governor’s office and other key offices, is likely to open in January. No decision has been made on reopening the VTrans garage on Rte. 302.
The Vermont Criminal Justice Council is considering decertifying Franklin County Sheriff Grismore, who was caught on video kicking a manacled suspect in the groin area. Scott noted that such a decision “doesn’t exclude him from being sheriff.” When asked if an appointed board decertifying an elected official is an infringement on the right of county voters, he answered, “It’s right on the edge. They’re not debarring him from being sheriff. They’re debarring him from police work.” It would be preferable for a sheriff to have police powers, but as the job is administrative it’s not essential, he said.