Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Chris Christie is no longer ruling out a third-party presidential bid.<\/p>\n
The former New Jersey governor had repeatedly dismissed the idea of running on a No Labels ticket while competing for the GOP presidential nomination. But nearly a month after exiting the race, he declined Tuesday to shut the door to the idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know. There’d be a long conversation between me and [my wife] Mary Pat, I can guarantee you that,\u201d Christie said when asked on \u201cGood Morning America<\/a>\u201d if he would consider running on a No Labels ticket.<\/p>\n Christie said No Labels has not asked him to run on a potential ticket. However, NBC News reported the group had made overtures to his allies<\/a> about the possibility before he dropped out of the GOP primary.<\/p>\n Christie argued on Tuesday that a \u201cstrong Republican\u201d on the ticket might be able to chip away at former President Donald Trump\u2019s support, rather than siphon votes from President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n The former New Jersey governor, who had served as the GOP field\u2019s most vocal Trump critic, warned in his first interview since suspending his campaign of the dangers of returning the former president to the White House for what Christie said would be a \u201cvendetta\u201d second term.<\/p>\n But Christie also declined to endorse Trump\u2019s sole remaining Republican rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who he was caught trashing on a hot microphone minutes before leaving the race in January.<\/p>\n Christie said Tuesday that the hot-mic moment \u2014 in which he was overheard telling a prominent New Hampshire supporter that Haley was \u201cgonna get smoked\u201d and that \u201cshe\u2019s not up to this\u201d \u2014 \u201cwas a complete mistake\u201d but that there\u2019s \u201cno apology warranted.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he spoke with Haley the next day in a cordial \u201c45-second conversation\u201d in which she mentioned the remarks and he did not apologize.<\/p>\n \u201cShe told me, ‘I know it’s a personal decision to get in a race, and it’s a tough decision to get out. I heard everything you said last night, including the hot mic.’ And I said, ‘Uh-huh.’ And she said, ‘Well, good luck.’ And I said, ‘Good luck to you,'” Christie recalled.<\/p>\n Even as Haley has ramped up her attacks on Trump in recent weeks, Christie said he doesn\u2019t see himself supporting her. He has criticized Haley in the past for saying she would pardon her former boss if he\u2019s convicted of any of the 91 felony charges he\u2019s facing and would vote for him if he\u2019s the GOP nominee.<\/p>\n Asked if Haley has any chance in the upcoming South Carolina GOP primary \u2014 in which she trails Trump by more than 30 points in polling averages<\/a> \u2014 Christie said, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t look like it.\u201d<\/p>\n