A feud between Republican presidential hopefuls Chris Christie and Donald Trump might be over before it began.
Christie, who’s routinely delivered stinging critiques of Trump and other 2016 contenders, opted to take the high road Tuesday, when asked about Trump’s latest series of attacks.
“It just appears to me that the Christmas spirit left Donald after only three days, but I wish him a happy new year, to he and Melania and the family,” Christie said, adding that he’s “not worried” about the billionaire’s merciless criticism of him.
“All I have to say to Donald Trump is, ‘Happy new year, and I’ll see you in New Hampshire,'” Christie later told a supporter who reportedly asked him to “take [Trump] on.”
“This is not a game where you’re pumping out your chest and saying who’s going to be the toughest guy … I’m not going to get into a tit for tat with him. I’m bigger and better than that,” the New Jersey governor added.
Trump unloaded on Christie during an interview and a campaign rally Monday, accusing the two-term governor of colluding with the New Hampshire Union Leader to earn their endorsement and blaming him for Mitt Romney’s loss as the Republican presidential nominee in the 2012.
“[Christie] was so warm and so happy to have Barack Obama in the state of New Jersey that I personally think it could have cost [Mitt] Romney the election,” Trump told New Hampshire’s WMUR.
He added, “I saw that whole event when Obama went to New Jersey … and I actually thought Christie was going to vote for Obama based on that whole episode. It cost tremendously in terms of votes for the Republican Party.”
Christie rose to third place in the latest Washington Examiner presidential power rankings released Tuesday. Trump, meanwhile, maintained his No. 2 spot.
