TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is putting a much-snickered-at Donald Trump campaign appearance and a few politically bruising days behind him as he gets back to work governing after bowing out of the Republican presidential race.
But with the state’s two largest newspaper companies calling for him to resign – and with less than a third of New Jersey residents saying they still support him – it’s unclear how successful he can be.
In a nearly two-hour statehouse news conference Thursday, Christie ribbed the “armchair psychiatrists” who mocked him over his gaze while standing behind Trump on Super Tuesday, rejected suggestions from newspapers to step down, and told his state’s nearly 9 million residents, some of whom gave him a poor review in a recent poll, that he’s getting back to work.
“I’m going to do my job,” Christie said. “The people of New Jersey will see it and react to it, and I’ll do better.”
Christie, who ended his campaign last month, said he will continue helping Trump’s campaign but doesn’t have any more appearances scheduled. Defending his endorsement of Trump, Christie said he believes the billionaire businessman would make the best president out of the remaining candidates and has the best chance to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the general election.