Watch CBS News

Author Of Book On Chris Christie: Trump Stole His Spotlight

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Reporter Matt Katz, the author of American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge to Redemption, says Donald Trump stole Christie's spotlight and role in the Republican party's presidential nominating process.

'Katz, during an interview with Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, stated that Christie was poised to be the biggest personality of the campaign until he was overshadowed by the New York billionaire.

"Trump stole his lane. Not necessarily his political lane, ideologically, but more just that personality lane. He going to be running for President, Christie was, on personality. Listen, you don't agree with me on everything, you don't like the fact that, maybe, you think I hugged Obama after Super Storm Sandy, but you think I'm tough, you think I tell you the truth, you think I keep it real. Then, all of the sudden, there's Donald Trump, who has stolen that. He's had all different kinds of ideologies in the past, but people listen to him and they like him and they believe him and they trust him to be able whip Washington into shape and that was what Chris Christie was supposed to do."

He did credit the New Jersey Governor with a media savvy operation that propelled him into the national limelight to begin with.

"He was the first You Tube Governor. He had this sophisticated media operation in the Governor's office that would cut these You Tube clips because he was so good in front of the microphone. He was tapping into something that people were feeling. He was yelling at teachers, which no politician has ever seen before. It was amazing. He had a way of cutting through all the noise...He was the loud mouth, tell-it-like-it-is Northeasterner who would say things you weren't accustomed to politicians saying."

He also said that while Christie's loud tantrum's sometimes portray him negatively, they serve his ultimate purpose.

"Part of that seems like out of control and he's peevish but part of that is also good politics. The criticism of the President has been, he's not tough enough, at least among Democrats and liberals. Why isn't he tough enough? Can he handle Congress? He doesn't know how to use the shiv and use the hug at the same time. Christie was able to do all of that stuff and the fact that there was this reputation of him being vengeful was a reason why Republicans changed their votes when he tells them to in the legislature."

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.