New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will enter the 2016 presidential campaign on Tuesday, adding another well-known Republican and big personality to the sprawling GOP field.
Mr. Christie’s coming announcement was first reported by The Associated Press, and verified to The Washington Times by people familiar with the governor’s plans.
The news follows an up-and-down couple years for Mr. Christie. Once thought to be a frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination, the 52-year-old has seen his stock slip under the weight of the negative headlines that have come out of the 2013 George Washington Bridge scandal, and the fiscal challenges facing New Jersey.
Mr. Christie, however, could carry some momentum into the race. The New Jersey State Supreme Court handed him a big victory earlier this month in his ongoing quest to curb the costs of pension and health benefits that have been promised to state employees.
As it stands, the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics ranks Mr. Christie among the third tier of GOP presidential candidates. He is running toward the back of the pack in national polls, and surveys in Iowa, which kicks off the nomination race, have found that a majority of likely GOP caucus-goers see him in a negative light.
His allies, though, are confident that his tough-talking style, message and retail skills will resonate in New Hampshire, where he is running in the middle of the pack.
The Granite State, host of the first-in-the-nation primary, helped propel Mitt Romney and John McCain to victory in the 2012 and 2008 nomination races.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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