Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, has joined the expanding number of Republicans who have declared their candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary, although he is aware of his odds.
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Christie stated that former President Donald Trump is the “straight through” nominee.
“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 declared.
He is seeking election to the presidency for a second time. Christie initially appeared to be dominating the GOP field in 2016, but he ultimately lost to Trump, who went on to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and the rest of the GOP field.
Tuesday marked the official launch of his campaign with a town hall meeting at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire. He positioned himself as a counterpoint to Trump at the event, winning over attendees with his distinctive approach and proposals.
He maintained his stance on Wednesday, telling ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that Trump and his campaign staff had “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 stated. “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 asserted that Trump has failed to deliver on crucial issues such as immigration, health care, and other concerns.
“Broken promises like that, George, aren’t acceptable anymore to the American people,” Christie went on. “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.”
Former vice president Mike Pence announced his candidacy for president in 2024 in an early Wednesday morning video.
According to the polling firm Morning Consult, Christie is currently in last place with 1% of the vote, below even former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson and ardent Trump opponent and former Wyoming representative Liz Cheney, who has 2%.
In this survey, Trump’s closest competitor is now Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who received 22% of the vote to Trump’s 56%.
Liz Cheney polling higher than Chris Christie for 2024 pic.twitter.com/arlxX0t05c
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) June 6, 2023
Furthermore, ABC News stated:
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.
Christie vowed to never again support Trump.
“So will you be on the debate stage? Can you support Donald Trump, if indeed he is the Republican nominee?” Stephanopoulos pressed.
“I’ll be on the debate stage, and I will take the pledge that the RNC puts in front of me just as seriously as Donald Trump did eight years ago,” Christie answered. “When he signed the pledge … and then on the first debate stage, he didn’t raise his hand to say he would support the nominee.”
Mike Pence addressed Republican electors in Des Moines, Iowa, during a CNN town hall and criticized MAGA Patriots and Donald Trump.
Pence, a former congressman, governor, and Trump ally from Indiana, spoke with host Dana Bash for 90 minutes about a variety of topics, including his desire to become president, abortion, and Ukraine.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
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