A Hewlett-Packard executive and Republican fundraiser said Tuesday she will back Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president.
{mosads}Meg Whitman said she plans to give a “substantial” contribution to Clinton’s campaign to make sure Republican nominee Donald Trump doesn’t become the next president.
“I will vote for Hillary, I will talk to my Republican friends about helping her, and I will donate to her campaign and try to raise money for her,” Whitman told The New York Times on Tuesday.
Whitman, who ran for governor of California in 2010, said she doesn’t agree with Clinton on many issues, but noted that the Democrat would “be a much better president than Donald Trump.”
An aide to Whitman said the billionaire businesswoman would personally give Clinton’s campaign at least an amount in the “mid-six figures.”
In the interview, Whitman also slammed Trump and said Republicans need to “put country first before party,” according to The New York Times.
She called the real estate mogul “a dishonest demagogue” and said he could take the country “on a very dangerous journey.” She also said he has “undermined the character of the nation.”
Whitman also said she stands by comments she made during a private gathering of Republican donors earlier this year, in which she compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini.
“Time and again history has shown that when demagogues have gotten power or come close to getting power, it usually does not end well,” Whitman said.
Whitman, who spent $140 million of her own money on her gubernatorial bid, is described by the Times as “a prized defector” for Clinton. The paper notes the female executive in Silicon Valley — a rare feat — is close to Mitt Romney.
Ron Nehring, who served as national spokesman for Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign, said he doesn’t agree with Whitman’s endorsement, but noted the “significance of it should not be discounted.” He called her an “extremely tough, smart woman.”
In a series of tweets, he noted Whitman was a “major supporter” of Mitt Romney and supported New Jersey Chris Christie in the 2016 Republican primaries.
“People listen to her,” he tweeted.
“Trump now has a former CAGOP Gov nominee, a NY GOP congressman and Christie staffer all supporting Hillary. This is unsustainable.”