Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is the most recent Republican to enter the 2024 presidential primary contest, though he is well aware of the competition.
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Christie acknowledged that the path to the nomination “directly” passes through former President Donald Trump.
“There’s only one lane to the Republican nomination for president and Donald Trump is at the head of it and you have to go right through him and make the case against him. And that’s what I intend to do,” Christie said.
This is his second run for president. Christie appears to ascend to the top of the GOP field in 2016, only to be defeated by Trump, who went on to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
On Tuesday, he launched his campaign with a town hall-style engagement at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. During the event, he positioned himself as an alternative to Trump, appealing to voters with his unique approach and policies.
He stayed on message on Wednesday, telling George Stephanopoulos of ABC News that Trump and his campaign team have “put themselves before the American people.”
“That’s exactly what he’s done each and every time when there’s been a key decision to make, and Joe Biden is showing he is simply not on for the job,” Christie noted. “I’ve been tested, tested over and over again in a blue state when I was governor, a very difficult place to govern. And I know how to bring solutions to our party and, most importantly, to our country.”
Additionally, Christie accused Trump of failing to deliver on major issues such as healthcare, immigration, and others.
“Broken promises like that, George, aren’t acceptable anymore to the American people,” Christie said. “The stakes are too high. That’s the case you need to make and if you make it effectively, I think we will be the nominee.”
In a video released early Wednesday, former Vice President Mike Pence announced his candidacy for president in 2024.
To say that Christie faces an uphill battle for the nomination is an understatement. According to the polling service Morning Consult, Christie is currently at the bottom of the pack with less than one percent support, below even former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and ardent anti-Trump critic and former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, who has two percent.
Trump currently leads the poll with 56 percent of the vote, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 22 percent of the vote.
Liz Cheney polling higher than Chris Christie for 2024 pic.twitter.com/arlxX0t05c
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) June 6, 2023
ABC News noted additionally:
Christie’s willingness to explicitly challenge Trump sets him apart from the other candidates, who have been reluctant to publicly criticize the former president and early front-runner. Christie insulted his opponents by comparing their treatment of Trump to the Harry Potter antagonist Voldemort.
To appear on the first debate stage in August, however, the Republican National Committee requires candidates to pledge support for the eventual nominee and satisfy certain polling and fundraising requirements.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
Christie’s pledged never to support Trump again. CONTINUE READING…
