Posted on 09/30/2015 10:29:08 AM PDT by newgeezer
DES MOINES — Chris Christie says he is serious about performing well in Iowa as he seeks the Republican nomination for president.
Christie, the New Jersey governor who to this point has spent far more time campaigning in nearby New Hampshire than fellow early voting state Iowa, said during a media event Tuesday that he plans to spend more time campaigning here.
Christie, who has languished in the bottom tier of most Iowa polls on the GOP race, made the promise after announcing the endorsements of a group of Iowa Republican activists and donors, including agribusiness leader Bruce Rastetter and real estate developer Denny Elwell.
“This is an impressive team of people,” Christie said. “They have a plan for me to do very well in the Iowa caucuses, and my job is to execute that plan and that means being here, and I will be here frequently ...
“By the time you get to February, you will be tired of seeing me.”
Roughly 50 people attended Tuesday’s event.
Christie portrayed himself as a “uniter,” someone who as president could unify the Republican Party and also work with Democrats. He pointed to his time as New Jersey governor, where he has served with a Democrat-controlled state legislature.
Christie contrasted that willingness to reach across the aisle with other Republican presidential candidates.
“I wake up every day (as governor) knowing I’m not going to get everything I want,” Christie said. “As governor, it’s not an option for me to stand in the corner and hold my breath and do nothing.
“Compromise, everybody, is not capitulation. They’re two different words. And they’re two different words for a reason.”
Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina and Ben Carson — three candidates who have never held elected public office — have lead recent Republican polls in Iowa.
Christie said he is not concerned by polls this early in the race, and that he also considers himself a political “outsider.”
“I’m a Republican in New Jersey, which means I wake up every morning as an outsider,” Christie said. “I don’t cede the outsider mantle to anybody in this race.” More stories from Erin Murphy Experts: Large caucus field won’t boost Iowa economy GOP candidates court Iowa evangelicals
Christie spent a portion of the morning visiting with Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
Branstad has said he will not endorse a candidate in the Republican primary. However, a former member of his administration and a state Department of Transportation official are working with Christie’s campaign, and Rastetter was appointed by Branstad to the board that governs the state’s public universities.
“He is putting together a strong grassroots organization and effort, many people who I know that are very well respected and also are hard workers in terms of grassroots organization,” Branstad said Tuesday. “But it’s a long time between now and the caucuses in February. There are a lot of candidates.”
Iowa Democrats also pointed to Christie’s record in New Jersey, including allegations that his administration engaged in political retaliation when it closed lanes on an interstate bridge, causing massive traffic jams, and an August poll that said 54 percent of New Jersey voters believe Christie should resign as governor now that he is running for president.
“It appears some Iowa Republicans see no better option,” Iowa Democratic Party communications director Sam Lau said in a statement. “The only endorsement Iowans need to care about is from those who know Christie best — the 54 percent of New Jersey residents who have experienced his failed leadership and want him gone.”
Rod Boshart of the Cedar Rapids Gazette contributed.
Christi’s still in the race? I had no idea.
Christie - completely forgot about him. He’s gotta be out or close to it.
LOL that was exactly my thought.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
There was a time I liked Christie.
Now I would not urinate on the sonofabitch if he was on fire.
FYI. These are some very influential Iowans coming to his aid. It will help him to some degree. We shall see.
Christie won the governorship of New Jersey, a great accomplishment for a Republican.
That’s about as far as his prospects ever were, unfortunately he’s been surrounded by people feeding his ego.
Nobody wants you Christie, go home!
Yep....never forget.
Buh-Bye Krispy Kreme Christie!
Nevada is a virtual sea of Christie lawn and ranch signs. /s
“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
Or Burger / Fry / Shake combos.
If Christie can pull from John Ellis Bush in Iowa and/or NH, he is worth keeping around. He takes 0 votes from Cruz, precious little from Trump, and clumps from John Ellis Bush and Marco Rubio. If he can outscore either of them in Iowa, he can make a pitch as the establishment guy in NH. If not, well things won’t look to good for him when the primaries swing south.
Christie needs to get back to NJ and run his state. Investigations are everywhere.
Desparetly searuching RINOs. If Bush III and Kasich don’t sell, they will try another.
I can’t imagine a bunch of people in Iowa supporting a politician from New Jersey enough to leave their house in January.
Leni
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