As the presidential primaries draw closer, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s campaign is raising concerns among top Republicans in New Hampshire. Christie, who has focused on critiquing Donald Trump, is now seen as a potential obstacle for Nikki Haley, Trump’s closest competitor in the state.
Some prominent Republicans argue that Christie is splitting the Independent vote with Haley, who needs these votes to have a chance of surpassing Trump in New Hampshire. A recent CBS News poll indicates that Christie’s presence in the race is affecting Haley’s prospective vote share.
Christie’s current standing in the polls places him at 10 percent, with 75 percent of his supporters also considering Haley. This overlap in potential voters is causing strategists to question whether Christie’s campaign could ultimately benefit Trump.
While some suggest that Christie should withdraw to consolidate support behind Haley, the former governor remains adamant about staying in the race. Christie’s campaign is actively running a $3.5 million TV advertising campaign in New Hampshire.
Christie’s team argues that there is much less correlation between Christie and Haley voters lately, emphasizing that Christie is alone in attracting those who believe Trump is unfit for the presidency. Christie himself has been vocal in his criticism of Trump, calling him a “dictator,” a “petulant child,” and a “crazed lunatic.”
Responding to suggestions that he should drop out to support Haley, Christie expresses doubt that all his voters would transition to her, as some support him for his willingness to stand up to Trump. Haley’s spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
The significance of New Hampshire in the primary race is highlighted, with pro-Trump strategists targeting Haley as a potential threat. The state’s abundance of independent voters makes it a key battleground, and the pro-Christie super PAC has appealed for Democrats to cross over in the primary to support Christie.
As the primaries approach, the stakes are high for each candidate, and time is running short for them to assess their viability in the state. The article concludes with New Hampshire State Rep. Bill Boyd stating that candidates must weigh whether their presence in the race will make it harder to take down Trump.
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