Chris Christie can help derail Trump — if he plays second fiddle

Unfortunately for the GOP and the country, the chance of Christie winning the nomination is close to zero. That does not mean, however, he cannot play a significant role in knocking Trump out of the race, thereby sparing the country from the risk of a second term and from post-election violence if Trump loses.

The clue came in the last debate. In addition to pursuing his attack on Trump, he rose to the defense of perhaps the only contender who can beat Trump: former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley. “All he knows how to do is insult good people who have committed their lives to public service and not say anything that moves the ball down the field for the United States,” Christie said in reaming Vivek Ramaswamy, who impugned Haley’s intelligence. Christie said he disagrees with Haley on some issues, but, “what we don’t disagree on is: This is a smart accomplished woman. You should stop insulting.”

Christie can do more than defend Haley rhetorically; he can drop out and sign up as her running mate. It would not be the first time a contender left a presidential race to sign on as the No. 2 on someone else’s ticket in an attempt to beat back Trump. In late April 2016, Carly Fiorina signed on to be the vice president for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). By then, however, it was too late to upset Trump’s path to the nomination. Now, a Haley-Christie ticket would not only consolidate the anti-Trump vote and anti-Trump donors, but it would also combine the talents of the only two candidates remotely qualified and at least dedicated to supporting critical allies such as Ukraine. (This is not a ticket I’d be inclined to support, but the only issue here is whether their combined efforts could undermine Trump, which is in the interests of our democracy.)

GOP donors have already begun pressuring Christie. “Republican donors, strategists and pundits are publicly pressuring Mr. Christie to follow the lead of Tim Scott and Mike Pence and formally end his campaign,” the New York Times reported. “Many would like him to throw his support behind Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who has risen in the polls in early-voting states in recent weeks.” Given a consolation prize of the vice president slot, Christie might be inclined to exit while Trump is still beatable.

Haley has a more traditional right-wing appeal (having lurched right on abortion, for example) and could leave Christie with the traditional vice-presidential role of attack dog. In advance of Trump’s criminal trials, Christie, a former U.S. attorney, could focus on Trump’s lack of a winning defense to charges stemming from Jan. 6, 2021; pummel Trump on his declining energy and mental acuity; and needle him about his subservience to Putin. Haley could stick to more subtle jibes (e.g., Trump ran up the deficit) and make her argument for a younger, fitter and more stable presidential nominee.

As of now, Haley’s and Christie’s combined poll numbers still leave them far behind Trump. However, in New Hampshire, they reach roughly 30 percent in poll averages, at least within shouting distance of Trump. If Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to fall, the Haley-Christie total might increase as they draw more voters nervous about a second Trump term. Going into South Carolina, they would have some “beats expectations” momentum plus the home-state advantage for Haley (and without favorite-son Sen. Tim Scott in the race).

Don’t get too excited. Trump remains the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination of a party now totally imbued with MAGA fervor, contempt for the rule of law and nativism. However, if any GOP contender could trip him up, or at least slow him down in time for a possibly disastrous criminal trial in early March, a pairing of the two least unhinged and most national security-savvy contenders seems to be the best bet. That they are both verbally nimble and comfortable in their own skins (as DeSantis is not) should be a plus as well.