Why isn’t former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie throwing in the towel after polling between 0% and 2% for his entire presidential campaign?
Political advisors, party members, and close confidants often face a delicate balance between encouraging a candidate’s aspirations and providing candid advice about their chances.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, like many politicians, likely has a team of advisors who offer various perspectives on his potential candidacy for the 2024 Republican nomination for President. However, there could be several reasons why Christie or politicians in similar positions appear to move forward despite public skepticism:
- Strategic Positioning: Even if they do not win, running for nomination can provide a platform for politicians to elevate their political profiles, advance specific policy agendas, or position themselves for other roles within the party or future campaigns.
- Inside Information: Advisors might have polling data, insights, or other information that suggest a viable path to victory, even if that doesn’t seem likely to the general public.
- Changing Landscape: The political climate can be very fluid, and what appears to be a long shot today may become more feasible as events unfold.
- Personal Conviction: Politicians like Christie might run based on strong personal beliefs or a sense of duty, irrespective of their estimated chances of winning.
- Candidacy Viability: There could be a belief that as the primary season advances, there may be shifts in voter sentiment that could work in the candidate’s favor.
- Public vs. Private Conversations: There may well be frank discussions happening behind closed doors that the public is not privy to, regarding the realistic chances of winning the nomination.
- Financial Windfalls: Chris Christie raises a lot of money. That means he pays a lot of consultants. It’s not in their best interest to tell him to pull the plug.
- Life After Politics: Even if Christie knows deep inside he can’t win, he’s playing for a consolation prize. While it could be the VP nomination from a candidate other than Trump, it could also be a full time gig at MSNBC, ABC or CNN.
In any case, politics is full of surprises, and predictions are notoriously difficult. Many politicians have pursued nominations despite being considered long shots and have succeeded, or at least, advanced their careers or causes in meaningful ways.