Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie kicked off his second presidential campaign on Tuesday (6) with strong attacks on former President Donald Trump, the leading name in the Republican primaries and a former ally.
At an event in New Hampshire, Christie – who supported Trump after dropping out of the 2016 primaries and became a close advisor to the former president before the 2020 election – stated that his previous support for Trump was a mistake and invited Republicans to join him in rejecting the current favorite candidate of the Republican Party.
“Beware of the leader of this country, to whom you handed leadership, who has never made a mistake, who has never done anything wrong, who when something goes wrong it’s always someone else’s fault. And who has also never lost,” Christie said about Trump.
Christie entered a crowded battlefield that, if history serves as a guide, could pave the way for a candidate without the backing of most Republicans. Along with Trump and DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have launched campaigns. Pence, who has already filed paperwork to run, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are expected to join the group on Wednesday. In total, there are already nine Republican candidates so far (including entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy).
Biography
Christie was first elected governor of New Jersey in 2009, ousting Democrat Jon Corzine. He was easily re-elected in the state in 2013. He served as U.S. Attorney in New Jersey from 2002 to 2008, during which time he successfully prosecuted Trump’s son-in-law and former advisor Jared Kushner’s father for tax evasion and witness tampering charges.
Christie was embroiled in the “Bridgegate” scandal during his second term as governor. Emails and texts from the governor’s top aides showed that the closure of the George Washington Bridge lane in September 2013, which caused massive traffic jams, was the result of political revenge after the city’s Democratic mayor refused to endorse Christie’s re-election as governor.
A federal investigation determined that Christie had no knowledge of the decision to close the lanes, but the scandal continued to shadow the former governor’s political life.
Source: CNN