Chris Christie to play Trump 'spoiler' in New Hampshire after he torched ... trends now
New Hampshire is where Chris Christie famously slayed Marco Rubio's presidential campaign in 2016, and it is here that state Republican operatives say he could inflict damage Donald Trump or reshape the race – even if he doesn't triumph.
'There are moments in every presidential campaign where people who aren't destined to win and on track to win can nonetheless shape an issue, shape a perception about another candidate, highlight a topic that maybe hasn't been highlighted before,' said Republican consultant Jim Merrill, who oversaw Rubio's presidential campaign in the state.
'Given who he is and his nature, I have no doubt that he'll make an impact in this primary – whether it's a winning one, I think remains seen, very much open to question,' he told DailyMail.com. Merrill credits Christie's political talent and his 'willingness to mix it up.'
As he joins a field of nine Republican candidates that is approaching a dozen, Christie has been the most direct critic of Trump after breaking with him over January 6, notably tagging him as a 'loser' – although he uniquely aided Trump by vouching for him with the party's mainstream base in 2016.
'I do think he’s going to be a strong Trump critic in a Republican primary and especially in New Hampshire. I think he’s going to look to play spoiler to Trump in New Hampshire,' said communications consultant Lauren Zelt, who has spent years working in state politics here.
Spoiler? Republican political consultants say Chris Christie's tough debating skills give him the ability to reshape the race and go after Trump, even if he isn't best positioned to ultimately prevail
'New Hampshire is somewhat home turf for Chris Christie,' she told DailyMail.com.. 'He has a lot of friends left over from 2016 primary I know that he has stayed in touch and plugged in.'
It is here that Christie had his most memorable moment in the campaign three days before the New Hampshire primary. In a high-stakes debate on a stage packed with candidates, Christie ridiculed the then-45 year old senator, who was emerging as a voice on foreign policy issues even after famously guzzling bottled water in a response to the State of the Union speech. At the time, Rubio was among a group of candidates struggling to emerge as the Number Two contender against Trump.
Christie found ways both to build up his own record as a governor while "ridiculing Rubio's service in the Senate. He mocked a scripted-sounding answer as 'the memorized 25 second speech that is exactly what his advisors gave him.'
Christie famously eviscerated Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on a debate stage days before the New Hampshire primary in 2016
Staying out: New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said he won't run for president in 2024, and warned of the risks of a crowded field handing the nomination to former President Donald Trump
Christie has already come out swinging against former President Donald Trump, and his entry in the race could reshape debates, if Trump chooses to participate in them
Christie endorsed Trump, helmed his transition for a time, and advised him in the White House, as he did in 2017 at an event
