New Jersey governor and former US presidential hopeful Chris Christie (right) stands with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday. — AFP
New Jersey governor and former US presidential hopeful Chris Christie (right) stands with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday. — AFP
In a major boost to his White House bid ahead of a multi-state vote next week, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump got a surprise endorsement from New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who was himself a contender till recently.
Close on the heels of Mr Christie’s endorsement, Maine governor Paul LePage also backed Mr Trump saying, “I’ll be very honest. I originally said I’d like it to be a governor, but unfortunately, the American people are not going for a governor this year. So I’m going to endorse Donald Trump.”
Mr Christie, at a rally in Texas on Friday, said, “Donald is a leader. He is a successful person that, like me, isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Our system is broken and it won’t be fixed from the inside. I am proud to offer my endorsement of his candidacy for President.”
Mr Christie’s endorsement to Mr Trump just ahead of “Super Tuesday” — in which primary elections would be held in 11 states — is, according supporters, expected to “seal the deal” for the 69-year-old reality TV star-turned-politician.
“It is my great honour to receive the endorsement of the governor (Mr Christie). We have had a wonderful relationship for many years,” Mr Trump said.
“He is a solid person that I have tremendous respect for. I am really proud to receive the support of the governor and his family.”
Mr Christie, a former federal prosecutor, is a moderate Republican running a largely Democratic state and was once seen as one of the party’s best hopes in 2016.
He dropped out of the presidential race after poor showings in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries.
Mr Christie’s endorsement is significant as he is one of the first establishment Republicans to back Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton is eyeing a decisive win in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential nomination race on Saturday, with the hope of gaining momentum against Bernie Sanders before the upcoming high-stakes “Super Tuesday” contests.
Ms Clinton is favoured to win the southern state, and already leads in the delegate count at this early stage, having won two of the first three nomination contests — in Iowa, narrowly, and Nevada.
“It would be a super send-off to do well here tomorrow,” Ms Clinton told several hundred people, Mostly African Americans, who gathered on Friday for an oyster roast and fish fry at the county fairgrounds in Orangeburg.
