NEW YORK, NY — Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s prospects in the Republican Presidential primary appear challenging as he trails significantly behind former President Donald Trump in early polls.
Christie’s political campaign has mocked by both the left and right as the former governor uses every opportunity to attack Trump, years after he stood by the President’s side as a loyalist throughout his administration.
Now, the National Review is calling for Christie to drop out of the race before he makes a bigger fool of himself. His campaign has been spending a lot of time making up ground in New Hampshire in what looks like a Hail Mary play in the endzone, down by about three touchdowns with a few minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
“Christie has been, as the cliché goes, running for “president of New Hampshire,” but since he’s a distant third, maybe it’s more accurate to say he’s been running for “speaker of the house of New Hampshire,” third-in-line in the succession,” the NR reported.
Christie, who announced his candidacy earlier this year, has struggled to gain traction among Republican voters. Recent surveys show him lagging considerably behind Trump, a dominant figure in the party. The polls indicate that Trump’s support within the GOP remains robust, presenting a formidable obstacle for Christie’s campaign.
While Christie’s polling numbers are starting to edge up slightly, it’s not because he’s taking from Trump, or even Nikki Haley, but the narrowing pack of candidates.
“Going up is better than going down, but Christie’s bump in New Hampshire is much more likely to feed his political delusions than result in anything salutary for the larger cause,” the National Review said.
Despite these challenges, Christie has continued to campaign actively, focusing on his record as governor and his vision for the country’s future. He has positioned himself as a pragmatic alternative to Trump, emphasizing his experience in governance and ability to reach across the aisle.
In response to the poll numbers, Christie’s campaign team has expressed confidence, stating that the primary race is still in its early stages and that voters are just beginning to engage with the candidates. They believe that as the campaign progresses, Christie’s message will resonate more with Republican voters.
The primary season, which will kick off with the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, will be a critical test for Christie’s campaign. Success in these early states is crucial for building momentum and challenging Trump’s lead.
Political analysts note that while Christie’s path to the nomination is challenging, the dynamics of primary races can change rapidly. Voter preferences can shift as candidates drop out, and unexpected events can alter the course of the campaign.