Endorsement is reminiscent of when Christie embraced Obama during 2012 campaign, says James Campbell
Newswise — BUFFALO, N.Y. – Donald Trump has a way of staying in the spotlight, and after what many said was a rough debate on Thursday night, rebounded with an attention-grabbing endorsement on Friday, says James Campbell, University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor of Political Science.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, who was a candidate for president himself until he dropped out after New Hampshire’s primary, endorsed Trump on Friday. This adds legitimacy or seriousness to the Trump campaign, says Campbell.
“Many Republicans are convinced that Donald Trump would be a disaster as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee and would inevitably lead to a Democratic presidential victory in November,” Campbell says. “Christie’s endorsement places another obstacle in front of pragmatic conservatives who seek to avert what they anticipate is a looming disaster.”
Christie’s endorsement may reinforce a feeling that Trump’s nomination is inevitable, and may lead others to jump on the bandwagon, Campbell says.
“This was good news for Trump,” Campbell says. “After an unsettling debate performance, the Trump campaign needed some good news going into Super Tuesday and Christie provided some.”
During Thursday night’s debate Senator Marco Rubio sparred with Trump, and many observers said he delivered the strong performance that Republican leaders were waiting for. But Trump supports hope that the Christie endorsement dampens the momentum for the conservative wing of the party, Campbell says.
“Many conservatives undoubtedly recall Governor Christie’s embracing of President Obama in the last days of the 2012 campaign, again at the expense of the broader interests of this party,” he says. “I suspect that Governor Christie’s endorsement of Trump is payback to those in the Republican establishment who did not support his candidacy this year. He is the governor linked to ‘bridgegate’ after all.”
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