This is interesting and insightful CC, but I think you are not sufficiently underscoring something: a big part of the reason why Christie is getting a bump and why he's dangerous to Trump is because he is saying things out loud what people think in private ... just like Trump did. That was a huge part of Trump's appeal: saying things people thought or believed or felt were true but which nobody would dare say out loud during a campaign. And that is exactly what Christie is doing. It's related to why we like comedians. And it was a big part of what got Trump elected. And Christie has beat the other candidates to the obvious "punchline." By far!! And that makes for some very good entertainment in a political epoch where the ability to be entertaining "trumps" policy expertise. Christie is, at least for now, the only candidate who in this way is out-Trumping Trump.
That's interesting. I DO think Christie's frankness has an appeal with a set of Republican voters. Especially those who are fed up with Trump and want someone to stand up to him.
I just don't think there are ENOUGH of those voters for Christie to seriously challenge Trump for the nomination. Obviously I could be wrong.
i agree. my comment, which i wish i had framed better, has its base in how you don't have to be preferred to trump to damage him. In saying things out loud that no one else will say, (which, well, also often happen to be true!, thereby making them all the more impactful,) Christie is punching the bully in the nose in plain sight in the schoolyard for all to see. A bully never looks the same after something like that. They start losing their invincibility mojo. They start to look beatable if the right David to his Goliath were to come along. They can, at last, and at least, become the butt of the joke instead of the joker. That's what I'm saying is the big deal in all of this as this would result in further softening of Trump for a general election. My comment is not really about Christie winning the nomination, though anything is possible. I don't have much of a clue on that. It's about the attrition of the Trump brand, and Christie's run is a milestone in this. He has said the truth out loud like no other candidate has yet to. He is the only Republican candidate thus far who has thusly crossed this Rubicon with so many paying so close attention.
I am not sure Christie will pull ahead enough to be the nominee, but I do think that he has a chance to take Trump down a few notches. Christie is a bully as well and knows how and where to attack Trump. Christie probably won’t make another run in 2028, so has nothing to lose. He can attack, attack, attack. I was born and raised in NJ and lived there until 2 years ago. Christie wasn’t the best governor but certainly not the worst. He got caught up in some scandals that hurt him but, at this point, don’t think they are consequential. I also do not count anyone out as we have seen with Trump, you never know. Who thought Trump had a chance in 2016? He became the nominee yet most thought that was going to give the win to Clinton. It would have been the case if it hadn’t been a late development with Comey. I would like the race to be between Trump and Christie, as opposed to Trump and DeSantis. Time will tell.
Anything is possible that's for sure, Elaine. Trump proved that in 2016. I am not ruling out the possibility that Christie could catch fire. I just think, right now, his most powerful role would be as a spoiler.
I do think there is a lane for Chris Christie....I keep hearing that Republicans don’t “like him” but I think that doesn’t apply to normal everyday people (only political Republican don’t like him) He FIGHTS (which the right LOVES) and he has nothing to loose now, he’s going full bore and doesn’t care what anyone says, so he won’t be whiny like Desantis. He also has a opening with centrist Democrats, who he worked with in New Jersey, who aren’t thrilled with Joe Biden (or his age issues) If he can gets past Desantis and Trump goes down (for whatever of the many reasons) there’s a lane for him...don’t count him out!
The problem, of course, is that centrist Democrats don't decide the Republican nomination. And as I noted in the piece, I think there are just too many Republicans who will NEVER vote for Christie to make him a viable Republican nominee.
He might have a chance in the general election. He has NO CHANCE of getting the nomination. "Centrist Democrats" are not likely to vote in Republican primaries.
I do not agree. While it’s very unlikely, it’s not impossible. There are very few scenarios where Trump doesn’t win, but they exist. A health crisis, a general malaise after multiple indictments, and least likely, people just sour on him. Again, unlikely, but plausible. And if any of those or something else happens, who else will voters move to? There is no other candidate in the field who inspires people. But a junk yard dog who plays alpha male will. Christie will destroy DeSantis like he destroyed little Marco. The rest of the field isn’t in the game.
“I like fighting number two,” Trump explained about his attacks on DeSantis. “If you're in a golf match and you got one guy that's close and other guys that aren't so close -- but he's not close.”
I don’t golf and also don’t expect logic from Trump. But, if you’re in a golf match you can’t really single out one opponent, can you? Your score is your score and would be applied against all opponents.
Maybe Trump has a way of cheating more against individual opponents when golfing, tho.
I think he means if you are doing a sort of match play thing in golf. Because you are right in a normal tournament setting it makes no sense to only focus on who is in 2nd place.
He is a known cheater in golf, but correct it’s against all other opponents not just # 2. This man child is so despicable and can’t believe we are going down this path in another election.
Unfortunately, I do not think we will see him on a debate stage with Trump - not because Christie will not qualify, it looks like he will - however, it will be because Trump is going to try to avoid the Republican debates, if at all possible, since the debates will mostly be an opportunity for his competitors to attack Trump.
I don't think trump will skip all the Republican debates...he likes the spotlight too much. I could see him skipping the first one or maybe even the first two but I think he and Christie will, at some point this fall, share a debate stage.
I look forward to seeing both Chris Christie and Donald Trump on the same debatestage so that Christie can challenge him ( Trump) on the multiple criminal cases against him. I know Christie will put his prosecutorial hat on during the debate and will ask Trump about his changing positions on the recently released tape as well as his role in the January 6 insurrection and his attempt to change the Georgia election results.
I think Trump’s biggest fear is Christie stepping on his toe. :) (I’m not usually suggesting insult lines for candidates but I really hate Christie for the Washington Bridge stunt and letting his assistant take the fall).
I wouldn't count Christie out. As someone who lived in the NY Metro when he was governor, bridge-gate, and then him endorsing Trump in 2016, I thought I could never vote for him. But, after seeing him on CNN and a couple of other shows, I'm now a supporter. As one of the other commenters said, there could be a lot of Republicans like me who would have said I'd never support him, but now would reconsider, but not necessarily tell pollsters that.
maybe i am the only one who remembers that scandal shutting down traffic lanes, and closing a beach for his private use.
however, i already have a new favorite, Will Hurd. the longest of long-shots for sure, but its nice to have an actual republican in the race. its been so long i forgot what they look like.
This is interesting and insightful CC, but I think you are not sufficiently underscoring something: a big part of the reason why Christie is getting a bump and why he's dangerous to Trump is because he is saying things out loud what people think in private ... just like Trump did. That was a huge part of Trump's appeal: saying things people thought or believed or felt were true but which nobody would dare say out loud during a campaign. And that is exactly what Christie is doing. It's related to why we like comedians. And it was a big part of what got Trump elected. And Christie has beat the other candidates to the obvious "punchline." By far!! And that makes for some very good entertainment in a political epoch where the ability to be entertaining "trumps" policy expertise. Christie is, at least for now, the only candidate who in this way is out-Trumping Trump.
That's interesting. I DO think Christie's frankness has an appeal with a set of Republican voters. Especially those who are fed up with Trump and want someone to stand up to him.
I just don't think there are ENOUGH of those voters for Christie to seriously challenge Trump for the nomination. Obviously I could be wrong.
i agree. my comment, which i wish i had framed better, has its base in how you don't have to be preferred to trump to damage him. In saying things out loud that no one else will say, (which, well, also often happen to be true!, thereby making them all the more impactful,) Christie is punching the bully in the nose in plain sight in the schoolyard for all to see. A bully never looks the same after something like that. They start losing their invincibility mojo. They start to look beatable if the right David to his Goliath were to come along. They can, at last, and at least, become the butt of the joke instead of the joker. That's what I'm saying is the big deal in all of this as this would result in further softening of Trump for a general election. My comment is not really about Christie winning the nomination, though anything is possible. I don't have much of a clue on that. It's about the attrition of the Trump brand, and Christie's run is a milestone in this. He has said the truth out loud like no other candidate has yet to. He is the only Republican candidate thus far who has thusly crossed this Rubicon with so many paying so close attention.
I am not sure Christie will pull ahead enough to be the nominee, but I do think that he has a chance to take Trump down a few notches. Christie is a bully as well and knows how and where to attack Trump. Christie probably won’t make another run in 2028, so has nothing to lose. He can attack, attack, attack. I was born and raised in NJ and lived there until 2 years ago. Christie wasn’t the best governor but certainly not the worst. He got caught up in some scandals that hurt him but, at this point, don’t think they are consequential. I also do not count anyone out as we have seen with Trump, you never know. Who thought Trump had a chance in 2016? He became the nominee yet most thought that was going to give the win to Clinton. It would have been the case if it hadn’t been a late development with Comey. I would like the race to be between Trump and Christie, as opposed to Trump and DeSantis. Time will tell.
Anything is possible that's for sure, Elaine. Trump proved that in 2016. I am not ruling out the possibility that Christie could catch fire. I just think, right now, his most powerful role would be as a spoiler.
I do think there is a lane for Chris Christie....I keep hearing that Republicans don’t “like him” but I think that doesn’t apply to normal everyday people (only political Republican don’t like him) He FIGHTS (which the right LOVES) and he has nothing to loose now, he’s going full bore and doesn’t care what anyone says, so he won’t be whiny like Desantis. He also has a opening with centrist Democrats, who he worked with in New Jersey, who aren’t thrilled with Joe Biden (or his age issues) If he can gets past Desantis and Trump goes down (for whatever of the many reasons) there’s a lane for him...don’t count him out!
The problem, of course, is that centrist Democrats don't decide the Republican nomination. And as I noted in the piece, I think there are just too many Republicans who will NEVER vote for Christie to make him a viable Republican nominee.
He might have a chance in the general election. He has NO CHANCE of getting the nomination. "Centrist Democrats" are not likely to vote in Republican primaries.
I do not agree. While it’s very unlikely, it’s not impossible. There are very few scenarios where Trump doesn’t win, but they exist. A health crisis, a general malaise after multiple indictments, and least likely, people just sour on him. Again, unlikely, but plausible. And if any of those or something else happens, who else will voters move to? There is no other candidate in the field who inspires people. But a junk yard dog who plays alpha male will. Christie will destroy DeSantis like he destroyed little Marco. The rest of the field isn’t in the game.
I think that Christie's sole goal is to take down The Donald. Whether he'll be able to do so is a different question.
“I like fighting number two,” Trump explained about his attacks on DeSantis. “If you're in a golf match and you got one guy that's close and other guys that aren't so close -- but he's not close.”
I don’t golf and also don’t expect logic from Trump. But, if you’re in a golf match you can’t really single out one opponent, can you? Your score is your score and would be applied against all opponents.
Maybe Trump has a way of cheating more against individual opponents when golfing, tho.
I think he means if you are doing a sort of match play thing in golf. Because you are right in a normal tournament setting it makes no sense to only focus on who is in 2nd place.
Or he’s going to do one of those James Bond moves and switch the balls like in Goldfinger.
He is a known cheater in golf, but correct it’s against all other opponents not just # 2. This man child is so despicable and can’t believe we are going down this path in another election.
I’m shocked, shocked to hear that! 😮
Unfortunately, I do not think we will see him on a debate stage with Trump - not because Christie will not qualify, it looks like he will - however, it will be because Trump is going to try to avoid the Republican debates, if at all possible, since the debates will mostly be an opportunity for his competitors to attack Trump.
I don't think trump will skip all the Republican debates...he likes the spotlight too much. I could see him skipping the first one or maybe even the first two but I think he and Christie will, at some point this fall, share a debate stage.
I look forward to seeing both Chris Christie and Donald Trump on the same debatestage so that Christie can challenge him ( Trump) on the multiple criminal cases against him. I know Christie will put his prosecutorial hat on during the debate and will ask Trump about his changing positions on the recently released tape as well as his role in the January 6 insurrection and his attempt to change the Georgia election results.
I do hope you are right - depending upon the format and moderator, it might be "Must See TV"
I actually agree with this. I think Christie's rise -- especially in NH -- is most problematic for DeSantis as opposed to Trump!
I'm old enough to remember the Herman Cain moment.
I think Trump’s biggest fear is Christie stepping on his toe. :) (I’m not usually suggesting insult lines for candidates but I really hate Christie for the Washington Bridge stunt and letting his assistant take the fall).
I wouldn't count Christie out. As someone who lived in the NY Metro when he was governor, bridge-gate, and then him endorsing Trump in 2016, I thought I could never vote for him. But, after seeing him on CNN and a couple of other shows, I'm now a supporter. As one of the other commenters said, there could be a lot of Republicans like me who would have said I'd never support him, but now would reconsider, but not necessarily tell pollsters that.
maybe i am the only one who remembers that scandal shutting down traffic lanes, and closing a beach for his private use.
however, i already have a new favorite, Will Hurd. the longest of long-shots for sure, but its nice to have an actual republican in the race. its been so long i forgot what they look like.
I like Christie. He doesn't appear to be a racist or conduct culture wars. If he were pro-choice, I could take a closer look.
nah, just kidding, I would never again vote for a Republican.