As of this morning, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has officially joined the 2016 Republican field. This makes a total of fourteen Republicans with two more expected to complete the field of sixteen next month. Christie enters the race with lagging poll numbers and weary donors who are unsure of his ability to mount a serious run at the nomination.
Report from CBS Philly:
Gov. Chris Christie has announced his decision to run for President of the United States in 2016.
Christie made the announcement at 11 a.m. Tuesday from his alma mater, Livingston High School, in New Jersey, where he served as class president for three years.
“I am ready to fight for the people of the United States of America,” he said.
Surrounded by family, including his elderly father, Christie referred to Livingston as “home” and recalled his childhood in the area. He also thanked his wife for her support, calling her “indispensable,” and his four children, before joking that he likes to use his veto both at home and in the office.
The Governor then launched into a rousing speech that touched on the need for bipartisanship and economic and tax reforms, among other things.
“This country needs to work together again!” Christie said to cheers from the crowd.
Americans are “anxious,” he continued, because they see a government in Washington D.C. that “not only doesn’t work anymore, but doesn’t even talk to one other…We have a President in the Oval Office who ignores the Congress and Congress who ignores the President.”
“Both parties have failed our country,” Christie added. “Somehow now, ‘compromise’ is a dirty word. If [the Founding Fathers] believed compromise was a dirty word, we’ll still be under the crown of England.”
Here is video of Christie’s announcement: (skip to 28 minute mark for Christie’s speech)
Prior to Donald Trump joining the race, Christie would have been the most brash speaker in the field. However, now Christie will be overshadowed by someone far more outspoken and unrestrained as a non-politician.
