Former President George H.W. Bush is not endorsing Donald Trump for president, but his Vice President Dan Quayle won’t sit on the sidelines.
Quayle made the rounds on television this morning explaining his support of Trump for president, describing the presumptive nominee as a “winner.”
“He knows how to win,” Quayle, who’s backing Trump, said in an interview with CNBC. “He knocked off 16 Republican and a lot of them were really good, solid people and would have been good presidents.”
On CNN, Quayle admitted that he expected the usual “sorting out process” in the Republican primary, where “the cream would usually rise to the top.”
“I didn’t realize Donald Trump would be the cream,” he marveled. “He got to the top. I totally misjudged his ability to win.”
Quayle also reacted to the Bush family’s refusal to support Trump, reminding them that it was important to support Republican nominee.
“I hope those that have said won’t support him now would reconsider, and before they cast their vote on Election day in November, would end up voting for him,” he said. “If not, don’t show up.”
Quayle said on CNBC that Trump had work to do to unite Republicans on Capitol Hill, explaining that “folks in Congress, they need a lot of stroking.”
During an interview with NBC’s Today show, host Savannah Guthrie pressed Quayle about Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns.
“Let me just give you a little newsflash here: This is going to be different,” Quayle responded. “He’s a different candidate, gonna be a different campaign, so stay tuned. Just remember this: Expect the unexpected.”
He previewed a dynamic presidential race between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
“If in fact it comes down to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, that’s going to be bigger than the Super Bowl,” he said. “So stay tuned. It’s going to be a wild year.”