Christie backs Trump, calling Rubio ‘desperate’

PHOTOGRAPHER: The New York Times

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, left, and Donald Trump during the Republican presidential primary debate hosted by Fox Business Network at the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C., Jan. 14, 2016.

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey endorsed Donald Trump on Friday, a major turn in a wild race and one that gives the New York businessman a boost as he heads into the pivotal Super Tuesday contests.

Christie was a candidate himself until he came in sixth place in New Hampshire’s primary. Seeing his political career facing an abrupt conclusion at the end of a second term as governor following his failed presidential campaign, he expressed his anger Friday at Sen. Marco Rubio, whom he was said to be upset with. He blames the “super PAC” backing Rubio for halting his momentum in New Hampshire with a string of attack ads.

The endorsement came a day after Rubio, in a withering debate performance, turned his guns on Trump for the first time, and followed up Friday morning, calling Trump a “con artist.”

At Friday’s news conference in Fort Worth, Texas, announcing the endorsement, Christie repeatedly attacked Rubio. The governor called Rubio’s behavior at the debate “desperate” and reflective of a “losing campaign.”

Trump welcomed the endorsement with warm praise for Christie.

“He’s been my friend for many years. He’s been a spectacular governor,” Trump said.

Trump then turned on Rubio, saying that at the debate, he saw Rubio backstage with “a pile of makeup,” he said. “I said Marco, easy with the makeup, you don’t need that much.”

Christie, noting he has been friends with Trump for a decade, said that he was “proud to be here to endorse Donald Trump.” Trump “will do exactly what needs to be done to make America a leader around the world again,” he said.

But Christie’s backing of Trump comes after weeks of him saying that it was time for the “entertainment” portion of the race to end, and as he had said that the type of executive leadership that a governor has is important.

Christie’s endorsement augments Trump’s appeal for working-class voters. But more significantly, Christie could become a catalyst for other leading Republicans to back him after they have held back from supporting the developer despite his recent string of victories.

Trump praised Christie for tenderizing Rubio during the final debate in New Hampshire, where the Florida senator wilted under blistering criticism from the governor.

“I thought he was gonna die — good going, Chris,” Trump said.

Asked what role he would like in a Trump administration, Christie demurred, before offering a window into his aspirations. He plans to finish his term as governor into 2018, he said, “and then go into private life and make money like Trump.”