New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, criticized President Obama’s leadership during a speech in Detroit Friday night.
“We need a leader in the White House once again who knows how to lead America and lead the world,” Christie said.
He told about 800 people at the Republican fundraiser, “stand with me and I’ll stand with you,” Bloomberg reported.
“America under Barack Obama has become a defensive, reactive and weaker country both at home and abroad,” Christie said. “When America doesn’t lead, bad people with bad intentions lead.”
He also criticized several of Obama’s policies.
“We need to deal with the problem of income equality, not by raising the minimum wage,” Christie said. He went on to deride Obama’s handling of war, terrorism, Russia, Israel and the Keystone XL pipeline.
If Christie decides to run for president, he will face a crowded field of Republican contenders. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has already declared his bid, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida are expected to make announcements in April, and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush are also expected to runs.
