By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
The editorial said: “Chris Christie is a solid, pro-life conservative who has managed to govern in liberal New Jersey, face down the big public unions, and win a second term.” It said he’s the only one with range and type of experience the nation needs, as Publisher Joe McQuaid, who wrote it, told “Meet The Press.”
“Christie is the guy who can take the fight to Trump, Hillary, ISIS,” he said.
Christie picked up another endorsement today from influential New Hampshire Republicans Renee and Dan Plummer.
“Love what he’s done in New Jersey with the veterans. That’s a big issue for Danny and myself, and unfortunately the heroin problem that we have here in our state and probably in our country, and what he’s done there,” said Renee Plummer.
Christie said little about the endorsements, adding he wanted to talk issues not politics. After mocking President Obama for putting climate change ahead of security as a priority, he said the GOP primary has been entertaining so far.
“A lot of really good folks, a lot of colorful characters, a lot of people from different walks of American life who’ve decided to offer themselves up as President of the United States. That’s a good thing. That’s a good thing for our party, that’s a good thing for our country, but it’s game time now, everybody. We’re 68 days away from the New Hampshire primary. It’s game time,” Christie said.
The Union Leader has endorsed the eventual primary winner only three times since 1972. It endorsed Newt Gingrich for 2012. For 2008, it endorsed John McCain, who did go on to win New Hampshire.
National political observer Larry Sabato had this assessment: “It’s a very significant endorsement for New Hampshire. It’s certainly not going to affect the results in Iowa, where Christie is not going to do well. I don’t know that it will have any impact anywhere else, but in New Hampshire it certainly has some impact. It’s the best news Chris Christie has had in the entire campaign.”
Sabato says the endorsement used to mean more. “The Union Leader is a shadow of its former self. Its circulation has dropped dramatically, just in the past decade,” he said.
Donald Trump seems to have noticed the endorsement. To this point Trump and Christie have refrained from criticizing each other, but Trump tweeted this morning: “How is Chris Christie running the state of NJ, which is deeply troubled, when he is spending all of his time in NH? New Jerseyans not happy!”
“It is an honor of sorts to be attacked by Donald Trump if you’re running against him, because it means he’s noticed you — that you’re a threat in at least one state. So, I suppose Christie can puff up his chest about that one. On the other hand, let’s not take it too far. After all, Trump has attacked almost everybody at one time or another,” Sabato said.
So far, no response from Christie on the tweet. By his own count this was day 49 for Christie in New Hampshire and tonight is town hall meeting number 36.
“If he is ever going to become a factor, he has to win New Hampshire,” Sabato said.