Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) teasingly insinuated potential repercussions for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) if he chooses to heed the advice provided in a leaked strategy memo that recently became public, much to the delight of DeSantis’ critics. “I cannot help but wonder what could go wrong when a canned remark from a Florida politician is unleashed against me on a debate stage,” Christie humorously remarked during an event in Atlanta on Saturday, as reported by Semafor reporter Dave Weigel and the blog Florida Politics.
Christie’s statement alludes to the moment he criticized Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) during a primary debate seven-and-a-half years ago, highlighting Rubio’s reliance on “memorized” responses. The former governor attacked Rubio for his lack of practical experience after the Florida senator had criticized him and then-President Barack Obama before expressing admiration for the United States as the greatest nation in history. Christie accused Rubio of employing a strategy often utilized in Washington, D.C., characterized by a quick initial attack based on incorrect and incomplete information, followed by a rehearsed, 25-second speech that his advisers had given him. Christie’s remarks elicited cheers from the audience. He further reiterated his point when Rubio mentioned that “Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing,” interjecting, “There it is, the memorized 25-second speech.”
DeSantis’ leaked strategy memo, initially reported by The New York Times, instructed the typically reserved and impassive governor to perform four specific tasks during the debate. The final task was to “defend Donald Trump in absentia in response to a Chris Christie attack.” The memo was prepared by Axiom Strategies, a firm owned by Republican strategist Jeff Roe. While Trump has consistently criticized DeSantis, the governor has often been hesitant in responding, so as not to alienate Trump’s fervent supporters. Christie stated on Friday that if DeSantis attempts to defend Trump, he should simply “get the hell out of the race.” According to The New York Times, Christie questioned DeSantis’ ability to allow a separate group of individuals to dictate his words by asking, “If you’re running for president of the United States, are you really going to let some other group of people tell you what to say?” Christie further added that DeSantis’ campaign has suffered a decline in popularity, leaving people uncertain of his true principles.
The first Republican primary debate for the 2024 election is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, although the lineup of candidates is still being determined. Trump is not expected to participate.
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