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Former President Donald Trump attacked Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) as being in “Never Never Land” shortly after the governor criticized the former president for skipping the first Republican presidential debate.
Sununu said Trump will ultimately regret not participating in the first GOP debate on Wednesday night. His comments came while speaking on Fox News’s Your World with Neil Cavuto on Tuesday.
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“I honestly think he’s gonna regret it, I really do. You can’t say I’m going to lead the free world and not be willing to get up and talk to those who are going to challenge you and want the job. You can’t really do that. It’s not fair to the system. It’s not doing respect to the voters and your base,” Sununu said.
He also predicted that Trump will only skip “one or two debates” and that he will eventually debate but that it will appear as if he was “forced onstage” once he eventually debates.
“My sense is maybe he skips one or maybe even two. He won’t be able to skip more than that without a hit in his polls and a hit to his ego. Let’s face it, he’s not one to watch a bunch of people on television tear him apart and sit in the back room. I think it’s gonna get to him, and then he’s gonna kinda be forced onstage and that’s going to look weak ’cause it’s gonna look like he was forced there,” Sununu said.
“So I don’t know how it’s going to play out, but I don’t see it getting any better for him,” he added.
Shortly after Sununu’s appearance on Fox News, Trump posted on Truth Social. He wrote that the New Hampshire governor “didn’t have the courage” to enter the Republican presidential primary, and he is stuck in “never, never land.”
“I was beating ‘Governor’ Chris Sununu in his home State, New Hampshire, by so much, almost 50 Points, that he didn’t have the courage to run. He’s a selfish guy who should have run for the Senate, but now he’s stuck in never, never land, lonely and virtually unelectable!” Trump posted.
Trump was leading Sununu in New Hampshire in hypothetical polling before the New Hampshire governor confirmed he would not run for president. An April poll from the University of New Hampshire showed Trump at 42%, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) at 22%, and Sununu at 12%.
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Sununu does have a better electoral record in the Granite State than Trump, with the New Hampshire governor winning his statewide elections in 2016 and 2020, while Trump lost the presidential elections in the state in both of those years. While both of Trump’s New Hampshire losses were narrow, Sununu won narrowly in 2016 but won in a nearly 32% landslide in 2020.
Trump confirmed on Sunday that he will not participate in the first Republican presidential primary debate, but he did tease on Tuesday that he will be “VERY BUSY TOMORROW NIGHT.” The debate on Wednesday begins at 9 p.m. and will be televised by Fox News.
Skiing
Skiers and riders at Storrs Hill Ski Area in Lebanon, N.H. can ski for free all season long.
The ski area, which opened in 1923 and is run by the nonprofit Lebanon Outing Club, is offering free lift tickets during the 2024-25 season thanks to a gift from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation.
“This project embodies the spirit of our community, providing an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the outdoors and experience the magic of winter sports,” said Cory Grant, hill manager and president of the Lebanon Outing Club, in a statement. “We hope this initiative brings neighbors together and inspires a love of skiing in a fun and accessible way.”
The ski area, which sees about 5,000 visitors annually, has 20 skiable acres, a vertical drop of 300 feet, seven trails, one lift, two ski jumps, a terrain park, instructional programs, a lodge, and night skiing. Skiers have been hitting the slopes there at night since 1939.
The donation could result in free skiing during subsequent seasons as well, according to the ski area.
Storrs Hill Ski Area is open Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Skiers do not need to make a reservation but should note that rental equipment is not available. Those interested can view a trail map.
Another New Hampshire ski area helping skiers financially this season is King Pine Ski Area in Madison, N.H, where skiers can hit the slopes for $4 on Dec. 19 in celebration of its Founders Day.
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An ice climber from New Jersey was rescued after he fell 60 feet Saturday night while ascending Shoestring Gully on Mount Webster in New Hampshire’s White Moutains, officials said.
Slavek Zaglewski, 55, of Oakland, N.J., was climbing with his friend, Mariusz Markewicz, when he fell while climbing a steep section near the top of the gully, according to a statement released by New Hampshire Fish and Game.
Zaglewski suffered injuries to his arm and head in the fall, according to the statement. Markewicz secured and dressed his injured climbing partner in warm clothes before continuing to climb the ridge until he had cellphone service and could place a call to emergency services.
Fish and Game officials were notified of the situation around 7:30 p.m., and conservation officers responded, along with 28 volunteers from the Mountain Rescue Service, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue, and the Bartlett-Jackson Ambulance service, according to the statement.
Upon arriving at the scene, a small group of rescuers reached Zaglewski and stabilized his injuries, treated his hypothermia, and loaded him into a rescue litter, while the rest of the team hiked up the ridge with equipment needed to raise Zaglewski out of the gully.
Zaglewski was lifted nearly 400 feet back to level ground before volunteers carried him 2 miles to the trailhead, according to the statement. “Several sections of the trail were so steep that rescuers needed to use roped belays to move the litter safely down,” officials said.
Zaglewski reached the trailhead shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday and was taken by ambulance to Maine Health Memorial Hospital in North Conway for further treatment.
Collin Robisheaux can be reached at collin.robisheaux@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @ColRobisheaux.
An outstanding 2024 New Hampshire high school football season has come to a close, with scores of outstanding performances to remember. But, who was the New Hampshire Defensive Player of the Year?
We ask you to help us decided by voting for one of the candidates we have highlighted below.
Here are the nominees. Voting ends Dec. 31 at 11:59 pm.
An athletic linebacker with good speed and exceptional instincts, Lambert was part of a defense that helped 12th-seeded Windham upset fifth-seeded Salem 8-7 in the Division I first round, and held eventual Division I champion Pinkerton Academy to 14 points in the quarterfinals.
Nossaman was selected as the Division II East Player of the Year. He can play both defensive tackle and defensive end, and finished the 2024 season with 57 tackles, five sacks and 12 QB pressures.
An exceptional athlete who can play several positions, Pares had 43 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles as a senior. He was also an outstanding quarterback who accounted for 17 touchdowns (10 rushing).
A four-year starter for the Titans, Smith excelled as both a pass rusher and a run-stopper. He recorded 15 sacks and 40 solo tackles during his senior season.
Toledo, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound two-way lineman, was among the key pieces on the Souhegan defense that played its best football in the postseason and helped the fourth-seeded Sabers win the Division II championship. Souhegan limited top-seeded Plymouth to seven points in the semifinals, and then held second-seeded Pelham to 11 points in the Division II championship game.
A 6-foot-5 senior, Villa was one of the most disruptive defensive players in the state. Known for his aggressiveness and ability to make big plays in pressure situations, Villa started in 26 games during his career with the Lancers.
Also a standout at running back, Batsone was one of three finalists for the Joe Yukica Player of the Year Award. He was selected to play in the New Hampshire East-West All-Star Game.
Couture is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound dominant interior defensive lineman who earned a scholarship to play at the University of New Hampshire. He started in 25 games for a Londonderry program that reached the Division I championship game in each of the last four seasons.
Also a starter at tight end, Dulac was one of the key pieces on a defense that didn’t give up more than 12 points against an in-state opponent during un unbeaten regular season.
Dyktra recorded a team-high 136 tackles as a senior, including 77 solo tackles and 10 tackles for loss. He also had four sacks and forced four fumbles.
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