April 15, 2016
Source/Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey
Christie stands behind Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie continues to take flak in his home state over his February endorsement of Republican front-runner Donald Trump, who leads the state by a significant margin in several polls.
In an ironic spin on words, the nonprofit advocacy group Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey put up a series of billboards this week calling on Christie to denounce Donald Trump's strident rhetoric on issues ranging from immigration to sexism.
New campaign against Christie's alliance w/ Trump, seen on a billboard in Trenton. pic.twitter.com/pnhXZTOvfj
— Dustin Racioppi (@dracioppi) April 15, 2016
"Stand with New Jersey and against hate," the group urges Christie in a series of composites on its website. The billboards, which first appeared Thursday in Trenton, riff on the criticism Christie received for his stoic appearance standing behind Trump at the time of his endorsement.
“It’s sad that Governor Christie refuses to strongly speak out against racism, sexism and bigotry — including the hateful rhetoric of Donald Trump,” said Aaron Keyak, who runs Bridges Over Politics, in an interview with Time. “Governor Christie’s legacy will be held hostage unless he speaks out and history will remember him as a sad governor.”
In a lengthy press conference in New Jersey last month, Christie defended himself adamantly against accusations that he's a Trump hostage, claiming that the real estate mogul is the best remaining Republican candidate in the race.
Keyak said he plans to run variations on the ads through the end of Christie’s term in early 2018. At the outset of 2016, the governor's state approval rating stood at an all-time low of 31 percent, with 59 percent of respondents saying they disapprove of him. Earlier this month, Christie's chief of staff, Regina Egea, resigned to pursue opportunities outside of government. She served immediately after the Bridgegate scandal and testified before the New Jersey legislature.
In the latest Rutgers-Eagleton poll from mid-February, adjusted after Christie's departure from the presidential race, Trump holds a 27-point lead over the rest of the GOP field. New Jersey's late primary election will be held June 7.
