Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie says it’s time for voters to start getting serious about the election as they head into the new year.
The New Jersey governor returned to New Hampshire Saturday to kick off a four-day bus tour across the early-voting state, where he’s been drawing new interest and gaining in polls.
“It’s game time,” Christie told a crowd of supporters gathered in an Exeter automotive garage, where he made a dramatic entrance in a new silver bus, emblazoned with his name and tagline, as the theme song from Star Wars played.
“I’ve had a fun summer and fall. It’s been incredibly entertaining,” said Christie, running through a list of rivals that includes senators, current and former governors, and “a real character” — a shot at billionaire businessman and reality TV personality Donald Trump.
But now, Christie said, “Show time is over. It’s time to pick a president. We’re not picking a legislator-in-chief. We’re not picking an entertainer-in-chief. We’re not casting a TV show. This is real.”
Christie, once seen as a top GOP contender, had struggled early on to stand out in a crowded field that includes former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as well as Trump, who has been sucking up most of the oxygen in the race.
But Christie has earned new attention from voters following the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino and after several well-regarded debate showings.
Christie painted himself Saturday as a tested leader with executive experience many of his rivals lack. He singled out two senators in the race — Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — criticizing Rubio for missing Friday’s year-end budget vote.
“I mean, Senator Rubio, listen, if you’re going to say you’re opposed to something, how about showing up to work and voting no?” Christie asked in Exeter.
“He didn’t go to work!” Christie continued at an evening town hall in Bedford. Christie has faced criticism in New Jersey for the time he’s spent out of state.
Rubio’s spokesman said in a statement Friday that the senator was campaigning in Iowa. “Marco has consistently voted against those sorts of bills, but the truth is that it’s not going to change until we elect a new president,” spokesman Alex Conant said. “That’s why Marco is meeting voters in Iowa today.”
Christie also mocked his “buddy” Cruz for talking a tough game by threatening to carpet-bomb Syria while backing the USA Freedom Act, which ended the NSA’s bulk collection of phone records.
“That’s really tough talk,” Christie said. “Except this year, when it came time to decide whether we were going to give our intelligence community all the tools they needed to protect us against terrorism, Sen. Cruz voted to weaken America, to make America more vulnerable. He decided that it was more important to score political points than it was to protect the American people.”
Cruz argued during the last GOP debate that the current system is better than the one under the old Patriot Act because it includes cellphone records.
Christie, who was marking his 53rd day in the state, went on to compare his rivals to shiny new cars, saying they that haven’t proven themselves as he has as a prosecutor who took office not long after the 9/11 attacks and as New Jersey’s governor during Superstorm Sandy.
“I’m the old truck in the race, everybody,” said Christie, who argued he would be most prepared to take on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton if she wins.
“You want that old truck on stage, you want the truck that can go forward and go in reverse no matter how much mud she throws, because she’s going to be throwing the mud, you know it, that’s the Clinton playbook,” he said.
Christie was joined by Maine Gov. Paul LePage, whose re-election campaign Christie supported in his former role as chair of the Republican Governors Association.
Speaking at a campaign stop at The Halligan Tavern in Derry, Le Page said that, while Trump may be leading in the polls today, he expects Christie to vault ahead.
“Let me tell you the difference. This gentleman, Chris Christie, has been tried and proven,” said LePage. “Donald Trump has got great sizzle, but there’s no beef.”
Christie will be joined by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan as he campaigns in the state on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Marco never embraced and almost kissed the guy we call president like you did, neither Ted Cruz, simply you dig your on grave
ALL TRUMP FANS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THIS**** The negative ads against Trump, all the adds for Bush paid for by the PAC Pimps, all of the hype by the media that Hillary can beat Trump, all the GOP candidates staying in the race with single digit % numbers, all the low polling GOP Candidates spewing negative comments about Trump, the media constantly bringing the low polling candidates on air to comment on anything and everything…..this is all a plan by the GOP Establishment to keep Trumps percentages below 50% in every state. This will allow the GOP establishment the opportunity to hand pick who the delegates will go to at the GOP National Convention even if Trump wins the popular vote. All popular votes must come in above the 50% mark in every state which will prevent the GOP from assigning that states delegates to whomever they want. Why do you think Jeb Bush keeps saying that Trump isn’t going to win the nomination? It is because he is in on this GOP Conspiracy to keep Trump from getting the GOP nomination. Bush is pretty sure that Trump will not make the 50% mark and already knows that those delegates will go to him making him the nominee. WAKE UP TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND SPREAD THIS TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE!!!!! This is sickening and no one is talking about it..the media isn’t talking about it, the GOP is banking no one starts talking about it. VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR TRUMP. Keep the GOP from bringing him down right before the National Convention. The GOP is banking on the Trump supporters not getting wind of this. They are banking on this so that after the primary elections are over it will be too late for us to do anything about it. They literally do not care if Hillary gets into office as all of them are sleeping together and are terrified if Trump gets into office all of their gravy trains will disappear. Obamacare, the Trade Agreement, Common Core all things that are making the PAC Pimps LOTS OF MONEY!! It is up to Trump Supporters to start to bring this to the forefront. The media never will as they are part of the PAC Pimps. VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!! FOR TRUMP!!! The GOP does not care if anyone runs 3rd party because they do not care if Hillary wins. If Trump runs 3rd party and loses and causes Hillary to win, the GOP doesn’t care. The GOP will take Hillary over Trump.”
If? Chrissie were to get the nomination I would never vote for the’ Cookie Monster’ (Chrissie Cristy)!
NJ Fats will NEVER get my vote…
Christie is the same rino who embraced Obama for his photo op the same governor who thanks to others working for him and willing to fall on the sword avoided bridgegate he is not now or ever has been a senator like Rubio or Cruz nor anywhere as successful or straight shooter as trump like hillary he lies and hopes the conservative voters have faulty memories.
Vote Trump and get rid of The Democrats. Also the Political Correct stuff.
As a NJ resident I can tell you that Christie has screwed over more people in this state than you can shake a stick at….If it doesnt mean MONEY in HIS pocket, he’s NOT interested. He IS a RINO in SPADES. He’s screwed over union members after promising them he’d support them. He orchestrated Bridgegate and no matter how much he denies it, he has ALWAYS claimed that he knows EVERYTHING that his staff is doing…..So just WHOSE chain are you yanking fat boy? There’s recently been yet ANOTHER INCREASE in the tolls over the George Washington Bridge –among others. Many people DO NOT realize that the George Washington Bridge is the busiest bridge in the WORLD. It NEVER closes and millions of cars go over it every month….Those tolls havent been accounted for in YEARS….neither fat boy or the governor of NYS want it done……the bridges are cash cows to this fraud. BTW, recently after relling people that the state cant afford more low income housing –(BTW waiting lists for such housing are multiple thousands in length) —…..He has also claimed that he “”Is NOT a rich man” . He further stated that ALL he has is FIVE MILLION dollars……FIVE MILLION DOLLARS of personal wealth and he’s NOT RICH? What planet is HE LIVING ON?