
<p>Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has thrown his hat into the 2024 Presidential ring, but is there really any lane for him in the race other than as a “Trump Destroyer?”</p>



<p>It is a question that even Christie seems to be asking himself, as he seems to see himself more as a person who can “stop Trump” for the GOP– his own stated goal – than as having any real shot at the Oval Office.</p>



<p>As he announced his candidacy, Christie challenged Republicans to find someone who could do to Trump &#8220;what I did to Marco&#8221; Rubio — a callback to his 2016 debate-stage evisceration of the Republican senator from Florida — &#8220;because that&#8217;s the only thing that&#8217;s going to defeat&#8221; Trump. ;</p>



<p>Christie apparently thinks he can wreck former President Donald Trump’s campaign as he did to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the 2016 GOP primary. He’s already throwing other Republicans under the bus, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), suggesting they are too weak to take on Trump.</p>



<p>Christie overestimates both his appeal and his own “talent.” Times have changed since 2016, and Christie has gone from the once-popular governor who missed his moment to a glorified CNN pundit. Christie is less popular and less influential among Republicans than ever. His words carry little weight. ;</p>



<p>Once part of Trump&#8217;s inner circle, the ex-president has now labeled Christie a &#8220;RINO,&#8221; and many in the party agree &#8211;certainly, Trump&#8217;s supporters do. Moreover, Christie did not wreck Rubio’s campaign, as he claims. Rubio did that to himself, falling repeatedly into a rehearsed answer. Christie happened to be the one butting heads with Rubio when it happened, but Rubio simply short-circuited.</p>



<p>Speaking to Politico, Christie insisted he was not a “paid assassin” in it just knock off Trump, but is serious about winning the primary.</p>



<p>“I’m not a paid assassin,” he said. “When you’re waking up for your 45th morning at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manchester [New Hampshire], you better think you can win, because that walk from the bed to the shower, if you don’t think you can win, it’s hard.”</p>



<p>He also said Trump “needs to be called out and … needs to be called out by somebody who knows him. Nobody knows Donald Trump better than I do.”</p>



<p>As to what the former President thinks of Christie getting into the race, he told Fox News, “I hear Chris Christie’s coming in. He was at 6% in New Jersey … I love New Jersey, but he has a 6% approval rating in New Jersey. What&#8217;s the purpose? And he&#8217;s polling at zero.&#8221;</p>



<p>Most observers think Christie’s second presidential campaign will struggle to last even as long as his first. ;</p>

Is There Any Lane for Chris Christie?
