Who are Christie’s biggest 2016 rivals?
With Gov. Chris Christie possibly ready to announce his 2016 presidential run, he will have to quickly turn his focus to the bitter fight that awaits him from both sides of the aisle.
We take a look today at the candidates that he has already feuded with and the ones that pose the biggest threat to his candidacy.
- 1
Hillary Clinton
Christie and the 2016 Democratic front-runner have verbally sparred already over voter equality.
Clinton pulled a slight one-upmanship by recruiting Christie-BFF, Bon Jovi to perform at an upcoming Jersey fundraiser.
Christie recently called Clinton out of touch during an ABC interview.
"Mrs. Clinton doesn't hear from anybody, she doesn't talk to anybody, she doesn't take questions from anybody. How would she know what real Americans are concerned about?"
- 2
Jeb Bush
The former Florida governor and long-time Christie friend also poses among the greatest political threat.
Bush and Christie are targeting similar voting and donor bases. Long-time Christie ally, State Sen. Joe Kyrillos, jumped ship to the Bush camp.
Christie has accused Jeb of copying his economic plan and not being 'combat-ready' for D.C. politics.
- 3
Rand Paul
Christie and the U.S. Senator from Kentucky have engaged in high-profile feuds dating back to 2013.
The two candidates have disagreed on everything from foreign policy to government spending to Ebola to the one most recent issue, the Patriot Act.
“This is about life and death for our country, and I stand for keeping America safe and making America strong and not giving political speeches on the floor of the Senate to raise money for a political campaign,” Christie said.
- 4
Donald Trump
The two dynamic personalities have complimented each other and played nice so far, but anything is possible when both have a microphone on a debate stage.
Trump leads Christie by five percentage points in New Hampshire, a state the governor has targeted as essential his campaign.
Christie recently said that Trump's run must be taken seriously.
- 5
Marco Rubio
The U.S. Senator (R-FL) is coming right into Christie's backyard for an August fundraiser in Colts Neck.
Christie also continues to trail the front-running Rubio in ever-important New Hampshire.
- 6
Scott Walker
The two governors have been generally friendly and allies, but Walker started a tiny controversy during Christie's time as RGA chairman.
The Wisconsin was prickly about the lack of help from Christie and the organization for his 2014 re-election.
The issue appears to be water under the bridge, but Walker remains at the top of most polls as one of Christie's biggest threats.