[Jimbuna]

Chris Christie makes decision on whether to run against Trump and Biden as third-party 'No Labels' candidate after weeks of consideration

Chris Christie has decided that he will not run on a third-party ticket with No Labels in 2024.

No Labels has had a hard time finding a candidate willing to headline their prospective 'unity ticket,' which ideally would include both a centrist Republican and moderate Democrat running together as president and vice president.

Former New Jersey Gov. Christie, a Republican, is the latest to withdraw his name from consideration after several others did the same before him.
'While I believe this is a conversation that needs to be had with the American people, I also believe that if there is not a pathway to win and if my candidacy in any way, shape or form would help Donald Trump become president again, then it is not the way forward,' Christie said in a statement on his decision.

It comes after No Labels' Founding Chairman and former Democratic Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman died at the age of 82 on Wednesday following complications from a fall.

Lieberman was leading the effort to find an alternative candidate to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in 2024.

Among others to turn down the offer or be reached for consideration from the group include Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney (R), former Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, former Democrat Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who changed her party affiliation from Democrat to independent and announced she will not run for reelection in 2024.

There are few remaining high-profile options for No Labels to tap for a centrist presidential ticket in November despite widespread public sentiment and polling that shows Americans don't want either of the mainstream options in a 2020 rematch between Biden and Trump.

'I believe we need a country that once again feels like everyone has a stake in what we're doing and leadership that strives to bring people together, instead of using anger to divide us,' Christie said in a statement on rejecting the No Labels pursuit.

Christie, who ended his Republican presidential primary bid in January, spent the last few weeks exploring whether he instead wanted to pursue a third-party bid with No Labels as the organization upped courtship for his candidacy.

This week, Christie made his decision.

The former governor's team commissioned polling in 13 states, calculated a theoretical campaign budget and concluded that for a third-party bid to be successful it would need to win 20 to 25 states, people involved detailed to The Washington Post.

While Christie does acknowledge there is appetite for a third choice in 2024, he concluded there is not a practical path to victory for him.

'I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again. And that's more important than my own personal ambition,' he said in January when ending his campaign.

He said he would not cast his ballot for Trump 'under any circumstances' but added: 'I can't see myself voting for President Biden, either.'

No Labels leaders have put a deadline for the first weeks in April to decide whether to nominate a presidential ticket.

The group has cautioned it will not continue its efforts if they cannot recruit someone with a path to winning. It was thought in recent weeks that Christie might be that candidate.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...1262451a&ei=21