Chris Christie’s recent consideration of running for president as an independent candidate under the No Labels banner should serve as a wake-up call for President Joe Biden and his re-election campaign, write Politico.
Despite Biden’s long-standing relationship with the former New Jersey governor dating back to Christie’s college days, the President has yet to reach out and court his support against Donald Trump.
According to reports, No Labels provided Christie with extensive data modeling to pitch him on a unity ticket, even suggesting potential Democratic running mates. Christie seriously explored the prospect, commissioning his own polls and drafting a potential budget before ultimately deciding against a third-party bid for various reasons.
However, the fact that Christie was open to such a run highlights Biden’s failure to actively pursue high-profile Republican voices who have disavowed Trump. Notable figures like former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan have also not received any overtures from Biden’s team.
This lack of outreach appears to be a missed opportunity, especially considering Biden’s skills at building political relationships from his decades in the Senate. Prominent anti-Trump Republicans like Maryland’s Larry Hogan ended up launching their own campaigns after hearing no engagement from the President.
Even current Republican lawmakers who have refused to commit to Trump, such as Senators Susan Collins, Mitt Romney, and Lisa Murkowski, confirmed they have not been contacted by Biden’s re-election effort. As Collins lamented, this is “especially surprising” given Biden’s understanding of the Senate and his existing ties.
For a President renowned for his personal touch and ardent outreach, the absence of any olive branches to Republicans turned off by Trump seems like an uncharacteristic lapse in political strategy. As Biden seeks to unite the nation, his team may be wise to start making some calls and bringing centrist voices into the fold against their common opponent.
