Long, Windy Road to White House a Rough Slog for Candidates

The electorate doesn’t validate the road to the White House on Election Day: It consists of years of coalition building, fundraising, and kissing babies and butts. One would think former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie would know he has the longshot of a lifetime, yet here he is, sticking his toe in the water and hoping to find enough love and adulation to start the journey.

Christie’s GPS is set to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., and the first stop was the New Hampshire Institute of Politics for some inspiration and back-patting, a must-do for any hopeful who wants the ultimate nod. While there, he attempted to clear the field without officially declaring his candidacy.

Democrats, Republicans, and the White House

To win a primary contest, a concise and palatable message must be crafted: Donald Trump grabbed the attention of the working class when he promised to Make America Great Again, and a movement was born. Now, Republicans and Democrats alike want to stuff Trump in a corner and not let him have another crack at the Oval Office. President Joe Biden’s bumper sticker call to Democrats is Saving the Soul of a Nation and Democracy in the wake of the Jan. 6 debacle.

Republicans are gently seeking new blood, like former US Ambassador Nikki Haley, who said, “I don’t think you need to be 80 years old to be a leader in DC.” But later she decided: “We need him in the Republican Party. I don’t want us to go back to the days before Trump.”

Christie, much like his nemesis The Donald, left his civility in the Garden State and went scorched earth:

“You have to be fearless because he will come back — and right at you. And that means you need to think about who’s got the skill to do that, and who’s got the guts to do that, because it’s not going to end nicely.”

“When you put yourself ahead of our democracy as president of the United States, it’s over,” Christie said, echoing the current Democratic strategy.

It’s unclear if the institute thinks Christie can slay the orange dragon.

Do You Know Al?

Democrats also are navigating an arduous road, littered with internal party politics: The endorsement of politically fickle Rev. Al Sharpton is one such hurdle. Sharpton may not be able to spell “respect,” but he knows how to demand -- and get-- it from Democratic and sometimes Republican candidates. Sharpton is an orator who does the bidding of liberal politics. But he has flip-flopped on his selection and attempted to eliminate the competition altogether. In 1986, Sharpton endorsed Republican Al D’Amato over Democrat Mark Green in New York’s US Senate race. By 1992, Sharpton ran for a Senate seat as a Democrat. He once said, “I’m not gonna be a battered wife for the Democratic Party.” That kind of spunk may be the ticket. Yet candidates cannot afford to have the good reverend as an enemy, and Sharpton may like Chris Christie’s brashness, his hate for former President Trump, and his quest to upend any MAGA momentum.

A Grueling Road Trip

A primary candidate faces a grueling schedule. There are endless appearances on the Sunday-morning political shows with hard left and hard right media taking shots and fighting dirty. Imagine Christie on MSNBC, trying to explain away his past resume of Trump support. Or even dicier – sitting with Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Dan Bongino, or any conservative talking head. No one likes traitors, even if they are righteous in disloyalty. Trust is easily broken in politics.

Chris Christie also has traveled a long road with his health. In 2013, he elected to have lap band surgery to combat genetic factors and eating habits that created a dangerously obese husband and father. He took steps, but his excess weight has plagued his wellness profile. Campaigns traditionally force candidates to subsist on a diet of greasy foods, too much caffeine, and grab-and-go junk, all without a decent night’s sleep. It is never ideal. And every public appearance comes with photo ops portraying the candidate as a “regular” person. Hillary Clinton ate a pork chop on a stick at the Iowa State Fair; Barack Obama binged on burgers and fries as he crisscrossed the country on the campaign trail.

Christie has been mocked for his diet. And as weird as it is, journalists following along with primary candidates focus a lot on food intake. So when will it be about the issues and not the errant corndog? And for the man who had surgery to protect his family, is it worth the health to follow a few supporters?

Anyone who survives the hairpin turns, stress, obstacles, and bumps on the highway to the White House may deserve the final step in becoming the president of the United States: the electorate’s’ approval. But at what cost? Maybe Christie should recalculate his GPS to the beach.