Chris Sununu, Nikki Haley’s ‘Best Friend,’ Won’t Stop Believing

The New Hampshire governor has been an energetic, unusually involved ally in what looks like a do-or-die state for her.

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Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire has been omnipresent at campaign events for Nikki Haley. He usually tries to stay deferential: “When I walk into the room, all eyes are on her, as they should be,” he said.

As he introduced Nikki Haley at a bar in Milford, N.H., Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire was in a comfortable place — surrounded by a swarm of media cameras and local voters.

“Oh my goodness, this thing is hot,” he said into the microphone as his voice cracked in the speakers. He gave a whirlwind recap of his day crisscrossing the state with Ms. Haley and urged supporters to vote before passing the mic. “I’m going to turn it over to the star,” he said. “I’m just the lowly governor today. I’m the sherpa, as I like to say.”

Most endorsements of presidential candidates follow a standard path: a leaked announcement, a big speech in the spotlight and occasional introductions at events. Mr. Sununu’s endorsement of Ms. Haley has not been like most endorsements.

Part hype man, part campaign aide, part spokesman, part surrogate, part “new best friend” (his words), Mr. Sununu has been omnipresent on Ms. Haley’s campaign.

They have frequently held joint interviews with reporters. His remarks at events sometimes last nearly as long as hers. And he occasionally takes his own crack at answering a question that had been posed to her. (He often precedes his friendly interjection with “If I may …”)

It can at times look like a partnership, or even a presidential ticket. Ms. Haley regularly sings his praises — “How cool is your governor?” she asked in Rindge on Saturday — and Mr. Sununu usually tries to stay deferential.

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