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| Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump for Republican presidential nomination | Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump for Republican presidential nomination |
| (6 months later) | |
| Chris Christie on Friday became the first governor to endorse Donald Trump, giving the Republican frontrunner a shot in the arm after a disappointing debate performance on Thursday night. | Chris Christie on Friday became the first governor to endorse Donald Trump, giving the Republican frontrunner a shot in the arm after a disappointing debate performance on Thursday night. |
| The New Jersey governor told reporters in Fort Worth, Texas: “I will lend my support in every way between now and November for Donald to help in everything he needs.” | The New Jersey governor told reporters in Fort Worth, Texas: “I will lend my support in every way between now and November for Donald to help in everything he needs.” |
| Christie dropped out of the Republican primary earlier in February after a disappointing sixth-place finish in New Hampshire. He was long an establishment favorite and was considered an early frontrunner for the nomination, but his campaign never recovered from the damage caused by the “Bridgegate” scandal over the closure of lanes to the George Washington Bridge between New York and New Jersey, allegedly for political reasons. | Christie dropped out of the Republican primary earlier in February after a disappointing sixth-place finish in New Hampshire. He was long an establishment favorite and was considered an early frontrunner for the nomination, but his campaign never recovered from the damage caused by the “Bridgegate” scandal over the closure of lanes to the George Washington Bridge between New York and New Jersey, allegedly for political reasons. |
| Christie praised Trump for “leaving the private sector and seeing the need for strong leadership in this country”. | Christie praised Trump for “leaving the private sector and seeing the need for strong leadership in this country”. |
| He said his family “prizes loyalty” and added that he and Trump “have been good friends for many years”. | He said his family “prizes loyalty” and added that he and Trump “have been good friends for many years”. |
| Trump echoed Christie’s praise. He said “this was an endorsement that really meant a lot” and described Christie as an “outstanding man with an outstanding family”. In addition to their family ties, Trump is also a good friend of one of Christie’s political patrons, George Norcross, the political boss of southern New Jersey. | Trump echoed Christie’s praise. He said “this was an endorsement that really meant a lot” and described Christie as an “outstanding man with an outstanding family”. In addition to their family ties, Trump is also a good friend of one of Christie’s political patrons, George Norcross, the political boss of southern New Jersey. |
| The two took turns criticizing Marco Rubio, who spent much of Thursday’s debate on the attack against Trump. Christie mocked the Florida senator in the last debate before the New Hampshire primary and on Friday he made little effort to hide his disdain. | The two took turns criticizing Marco Rubio, who spent much of Thursday’s debate on the attack against Trump. Christie mocked the Florida senator in the last debate before the New Hampshire primary and on Friday he made little effort to hide his disdain. |
| “Senator Rubio has shown himself over time to be wholly unprepared to be president of the United States,” said Christie. | “Senator Rubio has shown himself over time to be wholly unprepared to be president of the United States,” said Christie. |
| Trump, meanwhile, referred to Rubio as “nervous Nellie” and said: “I’ve never seen a human being sweat like this guy sweats.” | Trump, meanwhile, referred to Rubio as “nervous Nellie” and said: “I’ve never seen a human being sweat like this guy sweats.” |
| Later in the day a second governor, Paul LePage of Maine, added his weight to the Trump campaign, saying: “I think the governors have got to come out and pick your poison.” | Later in the day a second governor, Paul LePage of Maine, added his weight to the Trump campaign, saying: “I think the governors have got to come out and pick your poison.” |
| LePage announced his endorsement of Trump on a Boston-area radio show. In doing so, he was critical of the general tone of the debate the night before. | LePage announced his endorsement of Trump on a Boston-area radio show. In doing so, he was critical of the general tone of the debate the night before. |
| “I think the governors have got to come out and pick your poison,” LePage said, “because I’m telling you, we’ve got to stop the charade that went on last night.” | “I think the governors have got to come out and pick your poison,” LePage said, “because I’m telling you, we’ve got to stop the charade that went on last night.” |
| He also accused Rubio and the Texas senator Ted Cruz, who repeatedly attacked Trump on stage in Houston, of “killing the brand”. | He also accused Rubio and the Texas senator Ted Cruz, who repeatedly attacked Trump on stage in Houston, of “killing the brand”. |
| LePage added: “The one thing I like about Donald Trump, I’m not gonna say I agree with everything he’s saying … he’s showing a vision for the future. He wants to make America great again, and he’s the only person doing that right now.” | LePage added: “The one thing I like about Donald Trump, I’m not gonna say I agree with everything he’s saying … he’s showing a vision for the future. He wants to make America great again, and he’s the only person doing that right now.” |
| The Maine governor said he had not spoken to Trump about his endorsement, although he had been considering it since Christie dropped out of the race. | The Maine governor said he had not spoken to Trump about his endorsement, although he had been considering it since Christie dropped out of the race. |
| Like Trump, LePage is no stranger to controversy and incendiary rhetoric. In January, he was forced to apologize for making racially charged comments about drug dealers. | Like Trump, LePage is no stranger to controversy and incendiary rhetoric. In January, he was forced to apologize for making racially charged comments about drug dealers. |
| Christie’s endorsement of Trump, meanwhile, is sure to inflame sentiment against him among movement conservatives. | Christie’s endorsement of Trump, meanwhile, is sure to inflame sentiment against him among movement conservatives. |
| The New Jersey governor’s famous embrace of Barack Obama in the wake of Hurricane Sandy on the eve of the 2012 election has long been viewed as anathema by many Republicans, who saw it as a betrayal of Mitt Romney and a tacit endorsement of the incumbent’s leadership. | The New Jersey governor’s famous embrace of Barack Obama in the wake of Hurricane Sandy on the eve of the 2012 election has long been viewed as anathema by many Republicans, who saw it as a betrayal of Mitt Romney and a tacit endorsement of the incumbent’s leadership. |
| With his relatively moderate record, the bombastic New Jersey governor is unlikely to have much appeal in many of the states voting on Super Tuesday. However, Christie’s appeal to blue-collar Reagan Democrats is likely to be a boost to Trump in the 8 March primary in Michigan, and in Ohio and Illinois on 15 March. | With his relatively moderate record, the bombastic New Jersey governor is unlikely to have much appeal in many of the states voting on Super Tuesday. However, Christie’s appeal to blue-collar Reagan Democrats is likely to be a boost to Trump in the 8 March primary in Michigan, and in Ohio and Illinois on 15 March. |
| The endorsement also serves to further validate Trump’s status as the Republican frontrunner. The insurgent has won three of four nominating contests so far, accumulating a sizable delegate lead. | The endorsement also serves to further validate Trump’s status as the Republican frontrunner. The insurgent has won three of four nominating contests so far, accumulating a sizable delegate lead. |
| Christie joins two congressmen, Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter Jr of California, and 2008 vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin among the few prominent Republicans to have endorsed Trump. | Christie joins two congressmen, Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter Jr of California, and 2008 vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin among the few prominent Republicans to have endorsed Trump. |