Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is making an unconventional pitch to Republican primary voters, admitting he made a mistake supporting Donald Trump in 2016.
Mr. Christie, now 61, famously supported Mr. Trump eight years ago after he withdrew from the Republican race after finishing sixth in the New Hampshire primary.
“When I decided to support Donald Trump as a presidential candidate, I did it because he was winning, and I did it because I thought it would make him a better candidate, a better president. ” Christie said in a new digital ad released Thursday.
“Well, I was wrong, I made a mistake.”
More than just a supporter of Trump, Christie has actively campaigned for the now 77-year-old Trump, frequently defending him in various controversies and seeking to become vice president or attorney general. I got excited.
During both the 2016 and 2020 elections, Mr. Christie helped Mr. Trump prepare for debates against Democrats Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.
But now the New Jersey native has recast himself as a reformed critic of the 45th president, frequently accusing opponents of lacking the courage to launch attacks on the Republican Party's most popular figure. There is.
The Christie campaign announced a seven-figure ad buy to cover the airwaves in New Hampshire ahead of the Jan. 23 primary, leveraging a war chest it has been accumulating for some time.
Mr. Christie is relying heavily on the Granite State, where he ranks third in the polls. According to the latest RealClearPolitics tally..
In recent weeks, he has stepped up his verbal volleys against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Haley has the backing of popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, and polls show her in a clear second place behind Trump in New Hampshire.
Ms. Christie also resisted a chorus of calls from anti-Trump Republicans to step down and make way for Ms. Haley.
“Some people say I should withdraw from this race. Really?” the former governor said elsewhere recently.
“I'm the only one who says Donald Trump is a liar.”
