Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is experiencing a surge in popularity among Democrats, an unusual occurrence in the Republican primary race. While this shift in support is intriguing, it comes from a voter bloc that typically holds minimal importance during the Republican primaries.
Christie’s new Trump-critical persona has won over Democrats, who once viewed him as a Trump apologist. Some Democrats are now considering voting for him in the upcoming election, describing him as the most reasonable alternative to Donald Trump.
Christie’s crossover success in New Jersey politics was built on his ability to collaborate with Democrats to achieve significant policy victories. In his 2013 re-election campaign, he actively courted Democratic voters. However, a decade later, it’s Democrats who are among Christie’s most prominent supporters in his presidential run.
A recent New York Times and Siena College poll found that 14 percent of Democrats would likely vote for Christie as the Republican nominee, with that support increasing to 24 percent when including Democratic-leaning voters. This is higher than Christie’s support among likely GOP primary voters.
Even after a Republican presidential debate, Christie ranked third among Democrats, with 12 percent saying he won, according to a New York Post poll. This same poll showed that Democrats preferred Christie as the Republican nominee behind Liz Cheney, who is not running for president.
Christie, who once called Barack Obama a “feckless weakling,” is now courting voters from all sides as he seeks to keep Trump out of the White House. His campaign strategy includes appearing on a wide range of television programs, which puts him in front of Democratic viewers.
Christie’s strategy aims to capture independent voters in New Hampshire, where independents make up a significant portion of the open-primary voters. Some Democrats in the state, unhappy with President Biden’s actions, are considering Christie as an alternative.
While Democratic support could help Christie in New Hampshire, pollsters and GOP strategists warn that it could backfire in the long term. Gaining too much support from non-Republicans can make it difficult to secure the Republican nomination.
Some of Christie’s supporters are cautioning him against openly courting Democrats, as it could be interpreted as a lack of party loyalty among Republican voters.
Despite the interest from Democrats, Christie will need to navigate his way through New Hampshire, a state where his presidential campaign faltered in 2016, to capitalize on this newfound support.
In the competitive world of presidential politics, courting voters from the opposing party is a risky strategy, and Christie will need to carefully consider the impact of this support as he continues his campaign.
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