“I think it’s great news that he’s endorsing Donald Trump”, said Doherty, who represents a conservative district in northern New Jersey.
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Christie’s endorsement shocked the political world Friday because he had only recently mocked and attacked Trump while on the campaign trail, calling him “a childish whiner” with “ridiculous and risky ideas” who is running “for entertainer-in-chief”, etc. And it marks the second time that Christie has knee-capped the Florida senator, just as he appeared to be on the rise.
Christie said billionaire Trump would fight the Washington establishment and the failures of both the Republicans and Democrats. “I don’t believe his endorsement of Donald Trump says much of anything about why I chose to endorse him”.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who who backed Christie days before the New Hampshire primary, watched this unfold.
Republican rivals Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz ganged up on Mr Trump at the raucous debate, in a last-ditch bid to keep the billionaire from winning in states holding nominating contests on Super Tuesday that could set him up to clinch the presidential nomination.
So far, after four primary and caucus contests, Trump has 82 delegates, Texas Sen.
“I’ll tell you about backstage”, Trump said. He said the surprise from reporters was clear when they walked into a pre-rally news conference to announce Christie’s backing.
It also turns the story away from the series of brutal rhetorical attacks from Trump’s top opponents in the party’s tenth debate Thursday night. Trump repeatedly has made politically incorrect statements, used salty language and denigrated Hispanics and Muslims.
“He brings up something from 30 years ago”, Trump shot back. He pointed to articles that described a 1980s lawsuit by a workers union against Trump for hiring 200 illegal immigrants from Poland to build Trump Tower in NY.
“I didn’t do anything wrong”, he said. Ben Carson and Ohio Gov. John Kasich each drew 3 percent.
Asked if Trump’s campaign would work harder to win establishment endorsements as he got closer to the nomination, Lewandowski pointed to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, an early establishment favorite who quit the race on Saturday.
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Christie insisted he and Trump had not discussed potential Cabinet appointments for the former federal prosecutor, who has been floated as a potential vice president, attorney general and secretary of the Homeland Security Department.
