New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, accompanied by his family, speaks to supporters during an event announcing he will seek the Republican nomination for president, Tuesday, June 30, 2015, at Livingston High School in Livingston, N.J.
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“His version of compromise is more combative than the word implies”. “And other issues still pending need to be cleared up”. His speech sounded like many he’s given before.
“He’s been an inspiration”, said LePage, calling Christie his mentor.
“Both parties have failed our country”, said Christie. Another controversy to hit the governor was when his staff orchestrated a traffic jam on the on the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan.
Christie faces an uphill battle from his current underdog status in the crowded GOP field, where ex- Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. “The truth is that his policies have been disastrous for the state of New Jersey“.
“That kind of thing pays off both in Iowa and New Hampshire”, he said.
Christie has already logged time in the state.
From the school’s gymnasium, Christie said that he picked his home town because “everything started here for me”.
Northeastern states showed the keenest interest in the New Jersey governor, with New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut leading the way.
Christie blamed the dysfunctional leadership in the nation’s capital the Congress and the White House for the poor state of affairs of the United States while announcing his much awaited announcement. Christie’s office was accused of closing the lanes as political retribution against a local mayor who didn’t back Christie’s re-election. But Christie was never implicated, and has repeatedly denied having any knowledge of the scheme.
“He’s respecting his roots”, said Stephen Slotnick, another fellow classmate, who applauded the governor for including “the people who’ve grown up with him, the people who’ve supported him his entire life”. Another former ally has also pleaded guilty, while the trial of the indicted aides could take months – an unwelcome distraction as Christie campaigns. The only candidate less palatable: Donald Trump, the bombastic developer-turned-reality-television star.
LePage also praised Christie’s recent chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association.
“He’s not a straight talker”, Currie said. “It’s not that we do not like Christie”.
The campaign launch gave Christie a chance to rejuvenate his sagging opinion poll numbers and recast his battered image after the “Bridgegate” lane-closure scandal.
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“When I stand up on a stage like this in front of all of you, I mean what I say and say what I mean and that’s what America needs right now”, Christie said.
