Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie exhibited steadfast determination to remain in the race despite the outcome of the New Hampshire primary. During an appearance on State of the Union, host Dana Bash highlighted opponent Donald Trump’s substantial lead in New Hampshire, as indicated by a CNN poll—Trump was ahead by approximately 40 points. Bash suggested the idea of Christie joining forces with Nikki Haley on the same ticket, noting that their combined polling would reach around 30 points.
Pushing back against the notion of mere numerical calculations governing voters’ choices, Christie responded, asserting that campaigns should progress naturally. He encouraged people to let the campaign evolve organically rather than basing decisions solely on numbers. When queried about his intentions post the New Hampshire primary, Christie affirmed his resolute commitment, stating unequivocally that he plans to persist in the race, emphasizing his expectation to continue until the convention.
In Christie’s estimation, he predicts that Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND) and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson are likely to exit the race soon, especially considering that four candidates have already dropped out. Observing the field’s dynamics, Christie underscored the present Republican candidate pool, emphasizing the race’s consolidation to four major contenders: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, himself, and Nikki Haley. He highlighted that this is the smallest Republican field at this stage in a century without an incumbent.
Additionally, Christie asserted that he has qualified for the fourth GOP debate. Recent developments have seen both DeSantis and Trump intensifying their efforts against Haley. DeSantis launched a microsite on his campaign’s website aimed at exposing the “real Nikki Haley,” while Trump’s appearance at a University of South Carolina game over the weekend was interpreted by some as a subtle dig at Haley, who graduated from there and holds a solid second-place position in the early primary states of New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to polling data.
