GOP nominee Donald Trump offered the vice presidential slot to New Jersey Gov. Christ Christie first but then changed his mind, according to several campaign sources.
“Trump cares about who’s the most loyal and who kisses his a– the most, not who’s the most qualified and what’s the best political decision,” one source close to the campaign told the New York Post. “If it was up to him, it would have been Christie.”
Apparently Trump wanted to put Christie on the ticket, but his then-campaign manager Paul Manafort, along with sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., were pushing for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
A second source said that on July 12, a week before the Republican National Convention was set to begin, Christie called Trump, who was campaigning in Indiana, to pitch himself once again as vice president. Christie “said all the BS that Trump likes to hear, and Trump said, ‘Yeah, sure I’m giving it to you,'” the second source said.
Manafort interceded, telling Trump the campaign plane had problems. The plane did stay overnight in Indianapolis, and Manafort arranged another meeting between Trump and Pence.
“Trump had wanted Christie but Bridgegate would have been the biggest national story,” a third Trump source told the Post. The trial surrounding allegations that Christie closed the George Washington bridge into New York City because of a personal vendetta started in September. (RELATED: Day 1 Of ‘Bridgegate’ Trial: Christie Knew)
Having a running mate under investigation would be a liability for Trump. “He’d lose the advantage of not being corrupt,” the unnamed source told the New York Post.
When Pence arrived in New York on Thursday of that week, most politicos suspected he would be named Trump’s running mate. When Trump postponed the announcement, some wondered whether Trump was reconsidering his decision.
Christie took the news poorly. “Of course it bothers you a little bit,” Christie told MSNBC Thursday of that fateful week. “Because if you’re a competitive person like I am and you’re used to winning like I am, again, you don’t like coming in second. Ever.”
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