BEDFORD, N.H. — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie thinks fellow Republican presidential hopeful Rand Paul is making a “mistake” in choosing to skip the undercard debate Thursday evening.
“I’ve said all along that any time you have a camera, a podium and a microphone, and you’re running for president of the U.S., you have a chance to be heard,” Christie told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday during one of several campaign stops in the Granite State.
Christie, who was relegated to the happy hour debate in early November, but has since qualified for the main stage, said he’s the perfect example of someone who benefitted from the otherwise unfortunate situation.
“I showed that in the undercard debate two months ago when everybody said, ‘Are you going to go?’ ‘Is it the end of your campaign?’ Now people are asking me about what we’re going to do past New Hampshire and South Carolina, and other states,” he said.
Christie added, “If you’re invited to debate and you’re a serious candidate for president of the U.S., you should debate.”
“Whether that’s at 7 o’clock at night or 9 o’clock at night — the American people don’t care,” Christie advised the Kentucky senator.
“And by the way,” he continued, “if [Paul] made a good impression, he’d do well.”
The sixth GOP primary debate is set to air Thursday evening at 9 p.m. ET on Fox Business Network. The undercard event for low-polling candidates will air live at 6 p.m. ET.
