Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie is defending his decision to stay in the presidential race in a new ad that says former President Donald Trump will “burn America to the ground.”
In the 30-second ad released Thursday, Mr. Christie talks directly to the people of New Hampshire in criticizing Mr. Trump.
“Some people say I should drop out of this race. Really? I’m the only one saying Donald Trump is a liar. He pits Americans against each other,” the former New Jersey governor says in the ad. “His Christmas message to anyone who disagrees with him? ‘Rot in hell.’ He caused a riot on Capitol Hill — he’ll burn America to the ground to help himself.”
The ad will run on TV and digital platforms in New Hampshire and is part of a seven-figure ad buy in the Granite State. The ad is running just weeks ahead of the country’s first primary.
Mr. Christie has consistently been the most outspoken critic of the former president, and has called out his fellow GOP candidates for not mentioning Mr. Trump by name.
“Every Republican leader says that in private. I’m the only one saying that in public,” he says in the ad.
Still, the New Jersey Republican typically lags in polls. In a survey by The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling index, he finds himself in third place with 11% support in New Hampshire. He falls behind Mr. Trump, who has long been the frontrunner of the race with 43.7%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who sees 26.7% support.
Mr. Christie leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has 8.3% support, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who stands at 5.6%.