Chris Christie rebukes rivals not named Trump in first TV ad
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday turned his fire from former President Donald J. Trump, his usual subject of attack, on his Republican rivals with higher polling numbers for the nomination.
Mr. Christie’s campaign released the first television commercial of the campaign cycle, criticizing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for targeting each other rather than the former president, whom they all follow in broad outline. margin.
“Chris Christie is the only one who can beat Trump because he is the only one trying to beat Trump,” the narrator says in Mr. Christie’s 30-second spot.
The six-figure ad purchase, first reported by Axiosairs in New Hampshire on local broadcasts and national channels, including CNN, CNBC and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
It comes as Mr Christie tries to give himself a boost ahead of the January 23 primary in New Hampshire, where he is in third place behind Mr Trump and Ms Haley. He is betting that a strong performance in the Granite State, forgoing the first Iowa caucuses, will keep his campaign afloat in future contests.
The ad cited polls showing Ms. Haley and Mr. DeSantis trailing Mr. Trump by double digits.
“Nikki Haley, 26 fewer than Trump in her home state, attacks DeSantis,” a voiceover says, citing an ad from the super PAC that supports Ms. Haley and calls him “too lame to lead, too weak to win”. The ad then pivots to Mr. DeSantis: “DeSantis, 32 below Trump in Iowa, attacks Nikki Haley,” the narrator says, airing a clip from Mr. DeSantis’ super PAC that says, “You can watch Tricky Nikki do not trust.”
“There is only one candidate trying to stop Trump,” the ad says, before broadcasting footage of Mr Christie bashing Mr Trump on the debate stage.
The Times reported last month that Ms. Haley’s super PAC had spent $3.5 million on ads attacking Mr. DeSantis, but none specifically attacking Mr. Trump. (On Friday, Ms. Haley called on the former president to participate in the Iowa debate, saying, “It’s getting harder and harder for Donald Trump to hide.”)
While Mr. DeSantis has attacked Mr. Trump’s reputation more frequently in recent weeks, his super PAC, Never Back Down, has spent 10 times more on trying to criticize Ms. Haley than Mr. Trump.
Mr. Christie trails Mr. Trump by more than 50 points in national polls, with his support hovering in the low single digits.
He has spent the fewest days campaigning for the Republican Party’s remaining candidates, an analysis by The New York Times found. The campaigns and super PACs supporting Mr. DeSantis, Ms. Haley and Mr. Trump have outspent him considerably.