He’s behind in the polls and hasn’t spent much time in Iowa — but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign is set to get a major bump in the lead-off caucus state.
Christie has just landed major endorsements from nearly all of the local Iowa Republican heavyweights who tried to recruit him to run for president four years ago. It could help kickstart his otherwise floundering 2016 campaign, and just in time to cause a huge Iowa surprise.
Six of the seven big-money donors and activists who flew to New Jersey to urge the Republican governor to run in the 2012 race plan to formally endorse Christie in Des Moines today. Because of the way the Iowa caucuses are structured, the vocal and monetary support from influential local GOP leaders could carry major weight when the votes are cast.
“What we’ve looked at and come around to is similar thoughts as in 2011,” said Bruce Rastetter, a major GOP donor who made his fortune in the pork and ethanol industries. “We need blunt, bold leadership. We need somebody that can actually govern.”
Of the seven who hopped aboard the private plane to the east coast in 2011, two have long been vocal supporters and one has said he would not endorse because he works for an elected official. Getting the majority to publicly endorse Christie is a boon for his campaign, which has struggled to compete in a crowded field that includes attention-grabbing front-runner Donald Trump.
“Whatever he needs, we’re going to be behind him,” said real estate developer Gary Kirke, who said the group wanted to stick together.
Christie’s backers think his chances are improving after strong debate performances and with two governors — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry —now out of the race. Now Rastetter said he hopes the endorsements will send a message to Iowa Republicans, that they should “give him another look.”
Christie held a town hall meeting with Rastetter Monday night, telling the crowd gathered in a cavernous barn that “you’ll always know how hard I’m willing to fight for you.” He declined to talk about the endorsements in advance of the Tuesday press conference.
The trip this week marks his ninth to the lead-off caucus state this year. Christie, who has focused more heavily on New Hampshire, has spent less time here than many other contenders, though he put in a marathon day at the Iowa State Fair in August and has a well-regarded team, with respected operatives Phil Valenziano and Jeffrey Boeyink.
Campaign aides said Christie will be ramping up his visits to the state in the fall. Mikel Derby, who works for the state’s transportation department and who was part of the Christie recruitment effort in 2011, said there is still time for Christie to do well.
“History is littered with the Bachmanns and Walkers who are superstars real early. There’s no purpose in peaking in August and September,” said Derby, who has been with Christie all along.
Still, while these endorsements matter, most agree Christie will still have to invest more time in Iowa. Republican State Rep. Chip Baltimore, who has not endorsed a candidate, said there was no substitute for retail politicking.
“If he is not here, he will not do well,” Baltimore said. “Gov. Christie, when he talks to people and meets people, is very persuasive. People walk away from that generally feeling positive toward him.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story
There is likely to be several front runners between now and the convention. The candidate in the lead before Thanksgiving may not be in the lead in early January when many voters return to following the presidential campaign.
Republicans are blessed with an abundance of candidates, all of whom would do a better job than President Obama or any of the Democrat candidates.
Here we go again! Just like when McCain’s campaign faltered due to lack of campaign funds and he had to suspend his campaign, only to come roaring back with nobody asking, “Where did the money come from?” I strongly believe it came from Leftists like George Soros, among others, who wanted the weakest Republican candidate to get the GOP nomination. Recall also that up until McCain gained the nomination, the Leftist media was trumpeting his virtues as “The Maverick,” only to yank the rug out from under him once he had the nomination.
The same thing will happen with Christie (or Bush, if it comes to it), with the Leftist League falling all over themselves to applaud the good sense of the Republican Party for selecting these malleable creatures, only to dump all over them when they get the nomination.
One thing is certain, if the Leftist League is telling us which Republican candidate is the best for us, they really mean he is best for them. Don’t fall victim to this transparent manipulation. If the Leftist media supports any Republican, that is the one you must not vote for, and any Republican that they trash is likely the best candidate for us. Stop letting the other side pick our champions. Pick your own champion!
yea like trump go trump 2016
Why would any Republican want to give a second look at the man who was single handed was responsible for a second Obama term? A tree hugger would be bad enough, but and OBAMA hugger? No way!
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GO TRUMP!
HE LOST MY VOTE BY HUGGING THE ENEMY.
USA does NOT need another butt kisser!
Maybe he will get some mafia money to help kick-start his campaign? If he could close down the GW Bridge again & get his name out there, all publicity is good publicity. Too bad the presidency couldn’t be decided on a eating contest. I betcha Christie would be pretty dart good at it.
More likely, it will be Soros’ money.
Christie is close to the bottom of the polls for good reason, and I doubt all those big GOP donors are going to help him that much… But I do agree that money can talk….Guess we’ll see.
How do we the people initiate term limits for all senators & representatives? We can be SURE that they won’t do it!
The best way to end the DC mafia is to adopt term limits. NO MORE CAREER POLITICIANS !!!!!
No salaries for those who are already wealthy. Certainly NO pension plans. And they must have the same medical insurance
choices as the rest of the public. No special plan for them anymore !
I propose a 3 term limit for US senators and only 2 terms for US Reps. If they are doing a GREAT job they can apply for more
terms to the voters, if and only if, they can win re-election by 70% or better.
I disagree, Senators should be limited to 2 terms, I do agree with 2 for Congressmen.
I could agree with extra terms for a large percentage of the vote. I’d say (with you) 70% for a 3rd term, then 85% for a 4th term, and 100% for a 5th term. After that there would be no more terms (perhaps unless in some place like Chicago or Cleveland where 125% of registered voters show up and vote). Maybe I am just too cynical.
Agree
Agree with McKinney.
works for me I don’t like career politions anyway that’s why we’re voting for trump go trump 2016
So sorry to see Scott Walker out of the running. I really could not ever vote for Christie. Personally, I like Ben Carson, Huckabee, and Rubio. I think Ran Paul is a really fine man, but I can’t see him winning, same for Bush. This nation is desperate for a good conservative to step up and restore the values, and strength of this nation. Religious persecution and destruction of the family must be stopped if we are to remain a country significance. I wish that Christie would step down so those votes could be used to help stop the Trump frenzy. Christie is simply not electable. All the big money and big supporters will not put humpty dumpty together again!
I agree with you on Ben Carson. If he gets the nomination I WILL vote for him (and volunteer for his campaign as well). I am a bit scared of Trump, and would literally write in Mickey Mouse rather than vote for Jeb Bush.
well then you better vote for trump or rand paul r ky
We absolutely do not need another boot-licker representing America in the White House (such as the scene between Christy and Obama during the disaster). Big liberal money is backing him and this could be very dangerous for us. We need to restore the family and our – beloved by most – Constitution. I would go with Carson or Trump and or Huckabee.
Carson pretty well lost me when he went to Ferguson, Missouri and sided with the “Black Lives Matter” bunch over the criminal that got shot while attacking a police officer. I suppose that if you are black you are able to commit a crime and are untouchable by law Enforcement officers. If Carson could preside as president as an American, and not an African American it would be great, but to this point I can not trust him to do so. In this nation there is room for but one type of people, Americans, no matter what color your skin is. I’m afraid Carson has not awakened to that fact as of yet. If he hasn’t, he would be one more disaster for the USA.
Right now the leftist are in panic mode. They are looking for anybody to push for the republican candidate, but they would love to see Christie there I’m sure. He would be about as electable as McCain was, and if elected he would be controllable. They are especially afraid of Trump. He is not a good ole boy politician of the establishment, and might go off the reservation and prosecute some of the felony crimes that this past administration has committed. The last I heard, even the president and the attorney general are not allowed to ignore the law and smuggle criminally obtained guns into another country. In fact, what with the use those guns were put to, there might even be international criminal charges they could be tried on.
Why worry about who the Republican or Democrat Candidate is. Obama will create a crisis and cancel the Election and declare himself King! That’s been his plan and his handlers for the last several years.