CHRIS CHRISTIE ENDORSES DONALD TRUMP
'He's a good friend, he's a strong and resolute leader'
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In a surprise announcement that rocked the national broadcasts on Friday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump for president during a campaign stop at Fort Worth, Texas.
"He is rewriting the playbook of American politics because he is providing strong leadership that's not dependent upon the status quo," Christie said.
Christie, who engaged in fiery debates with Trump just a few weeks ago, while making his own play for the Republican nomination for the White House, came out and called Trump a "friend" and the "best person to beat Hillary Clinton on that stage undoubtedly in November."
He went on: "I will lend my support between now and November in every way that I can for Donald to help to make this campaign an even better campaign than it's already been and then to help him do whatever he needs to do, to help to make the country everything that we want it to be for our children and grandchildren. He's a good friend, he's a strong and resolute leader and he is someone who is going to lead the Republican Party to victory in November over Hillary Clinton which is the single most important thing we can do. So I thank him for his friendship."
Christie also painted Trump as a hero of sorts for leaving his business past to the side to pursue a path in politics and public service.
"I thank him for all the kindnesses we've shared over the years ... and for being willing to step out of the private sector and come offer himself for public service and for leadership for this country at a time when our party and our nation so desperately need it. So, happy to be on the Trump team."
Trump then took over the podium to answer questions from the press, the first of which sought response from both about Sen. Marco Rubio's characterization of the billionaire businessman as a "con artist."
Trump, after calling Rubio "desperate," turned the microphone over to Christie.
"The fact is desperate people do desperate things," Christie said, "and I've seen it throughout politics and so have you. So the idea that Marco Rubio can get inside Donald Trump's head is an interesting proposition but one that's really for the D.C. parlor game. What Donald Trump is about is about the people of this country."
Christie went on: "People in campaigns do desperate things, flailing punches in the last days of a losing campaign. The fact of the matter is no one's going to get inside [Trump's] head. He has live a lot of life, he has had lots of fights and battles, I've watched him do it and there is no better fighter than Donald Trump and he's going to fight for the American people."
The announcement came as Trump was widely reported to be quietly considering which Republican might make the best running mate. Christie's endorsement does not mean Trump has chosen him for the vice presidency, but the support of the governor goes far toward advancing the billionaire's public image as a rebel, unafraid to take on political powers.
Trump called Christie's endorsement powerful and meaningful.
"This was an endorsement that really meant a lot," Trump said. "This is the one endorsement I felt really strongly about, I wanted to get."
He also said "Chris called, we had this conversation," but a discussion of a vice presidency never occurred.
Christie, meanwhile, said the process of deciding to endorse Trump went like this: "When did I make the final decision? Yesterday morning, we sat and talk and [Trump] said, 'How about coming out on the road to Texas with me?' I said, 'Happy to do it.'" And a few moments later, he likened Rubio to the "D.C. establishment," in comparison to Trump, whom he described as having the strength to take on that establishment.
"This is the person who will go to Washington, D.C., and be able to turn that place around," he said, of Trump. "By the way, there was a period of time I was running against him ... but that part is over and then you have to say to yourself who is the best person to stop Hillary Clinton?" ... And this is the best person to do that."
Copyright 2016 WND
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