Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman spent Monday on the receiving end of criticism from one of the Republican Party’s most influential members: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Speaking to supporters of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on Monday, the New Jersey Republican slammed Mr. Huntsman’s presidential bid.
“I would be kind of pissed if I were Barack Obama,” said Mr. Christie. “I mean, I give this guy a job, he’s over in China supposedly representing my administration when you know the whole time — at least part of the time — he’s planning to run for president,” said Mr. Christie.
The New Jersey Republican said that the decision by Mr. Huntsman to run for president should raise questions among Republican voters.
“My issue is not that he worked for the president, but I understand why Mitt thinks it’s an issue,” said Mr. Christie. “My bigger issue is, why was he being disloyal to the president while he was working for him? That’s a bigger question.”
As for Mr. Huntsman, the Utah Republican spent much of the day focused on meeting with supporters in New Hampshire, where he has focused campaign resources in recent months, forgoing a challenge in Iowa. Asked Monday whether his campaign will overcome polls showing Mr. Romney in the lead, Mr. Huntsman acknowledged that he is an “underdog” candidate.
“Our strategy moving forward is getting ahead and steaming out of New Hampshire,” he said in a response to a reporter’s question. “We’ve got to prove the point of electability here. This is why the New Hampshire primary is so critically important,” said Mr. Huntsman.
“I’m the underdog,” the Utah Republican added.
Mr. Christie’s criticism of Mr. Huntsman comes as the New Jersey Republican has increased his presence on the campaign trail in recent weeks. Mr. Christie joined Mr. Romney’s campaign over the weekend, stumping for the Massachusetts Republican in New Hampshire.
