Chris Christie makes decision on whether to run against Trump and Biden as third party ‘No Labels’ candidate after weeks of consideration

Chris Christie has decided he will not play on a third-party ticket with No Labels in 2024.

No Labels has struggled to find a candidate willing to front their future “unity ticket,” which would ideally include both a centrist Republican and a moderate Democrat serving together as president and vice president.

Former New Jersey Governor Christie, a Republican, is the latest to have his name withdrawn from consideration, after several others before him did the same.

“While I believe this is a conversation that needs to be had with the American people, I also believe that if there is no path to winning and if my candidacy would help Donald Trump in any way, shape or form running for president again is not the way forward,” Christie said in a statement about his decision.

It comes after No Labels founder and former Democratic Senator from Connecticut Joe Lieberman died Wednesday at the age of 82 after complications from a fall.

It comes despite widespread sentiment that voters want another option than former President Donald Trump (left) or President Joe Biden (right)

Lieberman led the effort to find an alternative candidate to former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden in 2024.

Includes Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney (R), former Republican Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan, former Democrat Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who changed her party affiliation from Democratic to independent and announced she will not run for re-election in 2024.

There are few high-profile options left for No Labels to secure a centrist presidential ticket in November, despite widespread public sentiment and polling showing that Americans don’t want any of the mainstream options in a 2020 rematch between Biden and Trump.

“I believe we need a country that once again feels like everyone has a stake in what we do, and leadership that strives to bring people together, rather than using anger to divide us,” Christie said in a statement about rejecting the ‘No Labels’. pursue.

Christie, who ended his Republican presidential primary in January, has explored in recent weeks whether to pursue a third-party bid with No Labels instead as the organization ramps up courtship of his candidacy.

This week, Christie made his decision.

The former governor’s team commissioned polls in 13 states, calculated a theoretical campaign budget and concluded that a third-party bid would only be successful if it won 20 to 25 states, those involved told The Washington Post.

No Labels founder Joe Lieberman (photo) died on Wednesday at the age of 82 after a complication following a fall

While Christie acknowledges there is a demand for a third choice in 2024, he concluded there is no practical path to victory for him.

“I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever become president of the United States again. And that is more important than my own personal ambition,” he said in January as he ended his campaign.

He said he would not vote for Trump “under any circumstances,” but added, “I don’t see myself voting for President Biden either.”

No Labels leaders have set a deadline of the first weeks of April to decide whether to nominate a presidential ticket.

The group has warned that it will not continue its efforts if they cannot recruit someone with a path to victory. In recent weeks, it has been thought that Christie could be that candidate.