Staff Reports
In June, when Chris Christie announced his bid for the presidency, he received endorsements from some questionable characters that no respectable Republican would want on their side. Among them were Jennifer Rubin, the Washington Post’s resident NeverTrumper, and Joy Behar from “The View,” who referred to Christie as “the only bully who calls the bully Trump a coward and a puppet of Putin.” It’s a real powerhouse of support.
Report: Chris Christie’s NH Primary Strategy Emerges From the Shadows as Struggling Campaign Continues https://t.co/7epcgFZ66H
— RedState (@RedState) September 5, 2023
Despite a humiliating start to his campaign, where he was polling behind the unpopular Liz Cheney, Christie remains confident and determined. He even took a jab at fellow contender Vivek Ramaswamy, saying he “sounds like ChatGPT,” and has occasionally criticized former President Trump, whom he once cozied up to. But apparently, his attacks on Trump haven’t had much of an impact on Republicans. Shocking, right?
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However, Christie can take solace in the fact that he has gained popularity with Democrats. Once considered a bully and an apologist for Trump, they now can’t get enough of his Trump-bashing persona. In fact, a July poll from The New York Times and Siena College found that 14% of Democrats would be most likely to vote for him as the Republican nominee. That number jumps to 24% when you include Democratic “leaners.” Christie even ranked third among Democrats following the first Republican debate. Who knew?
Apparently, there are even some Democrats considering switching parties in New Hampshire to support Christie. His campaign is open to their support, saying, “If Democrats want to vote for him, we’re open to that.” It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for him.
However, as the author points out, Christie tried a similar strategy in 2015-2016 and it didn’t work out so well for him. He dropped out of the race after finishing sixth in the New Hampshire primary and then backed Trump, whom he had previously criticized. Flip-flopping is never a good look, especially among party switchers and independents. So, while stranger things have happened, it’s unlikely that Christie will pull off a victory in New Hampshire this time around. But hey, anything can happen in politics, right?
