Christie, Ramaswamy Under Pressure to Drop out, But will It Really Matter
Following the fourth — and final — Republican National Committee sanctioned candidates’ debates, increased attention has turned to the continued presence in the field of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and whether it’s time for both to stand aside in the larger interest of solidifying support behind an alternative to former president Donald Trump.
To the dismay and concern of many Republicans, though, the discussion may be academic, an exercise in what might have been and an examination of how Trump captured the party and created a cult of personality that has remained resolute in the face of criminal indictments and trials.
There is growing resignation the former president’s persistent 30 to 40 point lead has created an aura of invulnerability and inevitability that the nomination has been locked down before the first caucuses convene or the first ballots cast.
Time is growing critically short — the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary are little more than a month away — with Trump holding a commanding lead in both states.
The window of opportunity for the anti-Trump forces is closing rapidly, propelled by a fervent, unshakeable base of support that renders a decision by the challengers to remain or abandon their quest of no consequence.
Neither former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — both of whom occupy stronger positions than either Christie or Ramaswamy — have shown any indication they intend to end their campaigns.
Christie has vowed to remain in the race at least through the New Hampshire voting in the hope he will run a respectable third and remain viable while Ramaswamy intends to stay in the running for no other reason than to joyously wreak havoc, bask in whatever attention comes his way and comfort his ego.
A bit of history is instructive here. Christie entered the race in June; Ramaswamy in February. In the latest Real Clear Politics polling average, Ramaswamy is at five percent and Christie at three percent. Trump is at 60 percent.
In Iowa, Ramaswamy is at 5 percent, Christie at four. In New Hampshire, Ramaswamy is at seven percent, Christie at 11, and in South Carolina, the two are tied at three percent. Trump polls between 45 and 60 percent in those three states.
After nine months of campaigning for Ramaswamy and six for Christie, both remain statistically tied in single digits and a path to the nomination doesn’t exist for either.
Haley has risen to a solid second place – albeit some 30 points behind Trump — and tied nationally with DeSantis.
She trails DeSantis by three points in Iowa, but leads him by 11 points in New Hampshire and nine points in South Carolina.
Her surge, driven largely by her debate performances, has established her as the most viable challenger to Trump and has led to the growing chorus of voices calling for the others in the field to put their ambitions and aspirations aside and coalesce behind her.
They point to her electability strength — she defeats President Biden by nearly six points while Trump holds a two-point edge and DeSantis less than one point — in matchup polling. Further, she outdistances Trump in appealing to moderate voters who might support Biden despite their misgivings but would do so if the Republican challenger was Trump.
A light wind is at her back and party leaders confront a difficult and increasingly urgent choice: Unite behind her candidacy soon or face the prospect of decisive victories by Trump in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina which would effectively end the contest and produce a declaration of victory by the former president.
Christie’s relentless assault on Trump and Ramaswamy’s opposite and equally vigorous adoration for the former president has yielded little of value.
Christie is an accomplished political presence, insightful on the issues, devastating in his rhetorical barbs at Trump, and articulate in expressing his vision and philosophy of government.
Through repetition, Christie’s single issue campaign — defeating Trump — has grown wearisome and stale, appealing to a small slice of the Republican electorate while alienating the majority.
Ramaswamy is an embarrassment — to himself and the Republican Party — and with each debate has descended ever deeper into irrelevancy.
He’s characterized the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol as “an inside job,” suggested that Federal agents were on board the planes that crashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on 9/11, and claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen by “Big Tech.”
Aside from embracing such conspiracy theories, Ramaswamy has proposed raising the voting age to 25 years; reduce the Federal workforce by 75 percent by firing those whose Social Security identification ends in an even number; send the U.S. military into Mexico to wipe out drug cartels, withdraw support from Ukraine and turn the territory over to Russia.
His behavior at the debates has centered on wild and unsupported accusations that his competitors are corrupt and interested only in advancing personal agendas.
He’s promised to pardon Trump if the former president is convicted in any of the criminal trials he faces; called abortion “murder,” and described the LGBTQ community as “a cult.”
Christie, who is capable of scathing flamethrower rhetoric himself on occasion, seemingly had his fill of Ramaswamy at the most recent debate, calling him “the most obnoxious blowhard in America.”
He seems unfazed by the criticism directed at him and presumably rejects the notion his ideas are on the fringe and out of the mainstream. If he recognizes the absurdity of much of his views and behavior, he disguises it well.
While Christie has indicated he’ll reassess his candidacy if he falters in the New Hampshire primary and runs well out of the money, Ramaswamy has given no sign he intends to take demands for his departure seriously.
The Republican establishment holds no sway over him, understanding that, aside from appeals to reality and common sense, it holds no leverage to force him out of the field.
Should Christie depart and endorse Haley his action would be impactful.
While his unceasing assault on Trump has earned him the undying enmity of the broader pro-Trump base, a public display of support for Haley would demonstrate a higher principle.
Ramaswamy, like all self-centered fools, will continue to play the role of national embarrassment.
In the absence of significant upward movement by Haley or DeSantis, though, Trump will be the bitter but inevitable pill to swallow for the Republican Party.
Carl Golden is a senior contributing analyst with the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.
It’s over for you two! DROP OUT!
Ramaswamy gives us a look at what a real American looks like. He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind. Chris Christie is his usual flip-flopping self-absorbed narcissist. Christie is only in it for the money. Look at this laughable clown. He says he’s the only one who can take on Trump. But, Trump is too smart for Christie and won’t take the bait and debate him while Trump is 40-50 points ahead of him and over 30 points ahead of everyone else. Christie threatens the debate managers, e.g., Megyn Kelly, because he says he didn’t get enough time on the debate stage. After watching the videos, Christie got about as much time as everyone else. Christie is nothing but a bully and loser, who hides behind the fact he was a former U.S. District Attorney and Governor, which he believes he can use those 2 positions to personally berate and denigrate people. No, Christie was a failure and screwed New Jersey taxpayers in the end. The rest of the country needs to show their disdain for “Chubsy Ubsy” and kick him to the curb.
Nikki is corrupt. There is enough material on record to prove this. Her private paid speeches, content of which, were never revealed. Probably they served as a conduit for hush dollars.
Christie, the lesser said, the better. Vivek Ramaswamy. Truth man. Boldly saying some unpleasant truths eg. Ronna. And if the polls are not capturing a sizeable crowd, then may be pollsters and columnists are in for a little shock, perhaps, come Jan 15.
Although I admire how Christie is the only candidate in the republican party willing to stand up to Trump, things aren’t looking good for him. Ramaswamy occasionally says something true, but most of the time is an idiot that keeps interrupting everyone. Desantis has been on a downward spiral since he entered the race and won’t directly answer questions given to him. He and Ramaswamy keep dog piling on Hailey, who is a sensible candidate like Christie. She is electable (Unlike christie) and not and idiot (Unlike Ramaswamy) and doesn’t give meaningless monolouges (Unlike Desantis) and wants to keep our country a democracy (Unlike Desantis)
Nikki Haley is part of the Deep State, who, along with Dick Cheney and others of his ilk, are warmongers, seeking to make their fortunes in the military-industrial complex. She wants to continue the wars in the Ukraine and Gaza, while challenging the Chinese in the South China Sea. She has come out and wants to curb our First Amendment Rights by having everyone put their real names to Facebook and Twitter accounts (so the government can more easily monitor us). That’s called fascism by any other name.
Nikki Haley has used “identity politics” to accuse men she doesn’t like when they go after her record. This is not a politician we want in the White House or near any national security entities. She has a record of backing down when the Democrats go after her or the mainstream media puts her under the gun. Haley is what is called a “weak sister”. We don’t need anymore weaklings in the White House after Clinton, Obama and Biden.