Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to launch presidential marketing campaign subsequent week

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one among former President Donald Trump’s most vocal Republican critics, is poised to announce his 2024 presidential marketing campaign subsequent week, an individual aware of the matter advised CNBC on Wednesday.

Christie, 60, is anticipated to launch his long-shot bid throughout a city corridor occasion in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, stated the particular person, who declined to be named forward of the announcement.

The previous governor’s announcement is about to come back lower than two weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis formally joined the Republican main race, changing into a high rival to Trump, who presently boasts a commanding lead within the polls.

Of the polls of the possible main discipline that embody Christie, most present him within the low single digits.

The most recent presidential bid marks Christie’s second shot on the White Home. He ran for the Republican nomination in 2016, dropping out after putting sixth within the New Hampshire main. He endorsed Trump quickly thereafter.

However Christie in latest months has railed towards Trump repeatedly and criticized different GOP presidential hopefuls, a lot of whom appear to be taking pains to keep away from direct battle with their largest competitors.

“Donald Trump is a TV star, nothing extra, nothing much less,” Christie stated final month. “Let me recommend to you that in placing him again within the White Home, the reruns shall be worse than the unique present.”

Christie was elected governor of the traditionally blue state in 2009 and served for 2 phrases, the utmost allowed underneath term-limit guidelines. He gained nationwide consideration as governor for his connection to the 2013 “Bridgegate” scandal, through which commuter lanes have been shut down on the George Washington Bridge connecting New Jersey and New York in retaliation towards a mayor who refused to again Christie’s reelection bid.

The Supreme Court docket in 2020 reversed fraud convictions towards two of Christie’s aides who had performed key roles within the scandal.

Allies of the previous governor earlier this week launched a brilliant PAC, Inform It Like It Is, encouraging him to run for president. The PAC and members of its management crew didn’t instantly reply to CNBC’s requests for touch upon Christie’s plans.

Christie is about to ship remarks and take questions from an viewers at a city corridor on the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm Faculty at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, in accordance with NBC Information. Trump hosted a controversial city corridor occasion on the similar faculty weeks earlier.

The Republican discipline may proceed to develop after Christie jumps in. Former Vice President Mike Pence stated he’ll announce his presidential plans in June, and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu stated he’ll determine on a 2024 bid within the coming weeks.