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Christie spars with ‘The View’ hosts over election: ‘I don’t have to vote’

Chris Christie at Searles School and Chapel before he announced he would drop out of the race, on Jan. 10, 2024. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Former GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie argued with “The View” hosts on Friday over who he would vote for in the upcoming election, saying neither former President Trump nor President Biden would earn his support.

“I know you’re not voting for Trump. Would you vote for a Democratic ticket?” host Ana Navarro asked the former New Jersey governor.

“Right now, I’m not voting for either,” Christie told “The View” hosts in response. “I’m just not. I can’t. One guy is completely, mentally incompetent to do the job.”

He was cut off by several hosts.

“But you have to vote!” Joy Behar said.

Christie pushed back and said he will “vote down ticket” but he doesn’t “have to vote.”

“You cannot throw away your vote,” Sunny Hostin responded.

Christie ran against Trump in the GOP primary. He suspended his bid in January but remained the only challenger to Trump who has remained critical of the former president’s campaign.

Christie said he will wait to see what the Democratic Party does with its nominee before making a final choice as concerns continue about Biden’s ability to beat Trump in the election and serve another four years if reelected.

Navarro asked Christie if he thought it was “rich for you to tell the Democrats that they’ve got to get rid of their nominee when you’re not willing to vote for any of their nominees?”

“Wait a second, you just asked me who I’m voting for now. Biden is the nominee. Let me see what the Democrats do,” he responded.

He added that he is willing to consider voting for “anybody who presents themselves as someone who will make the country better.” He said he is “not encouraged” by Vice President Kamala Harris’ performance “thus far.”

A growing number of Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to step aside and allow someone else to take on Trump in November. Harris has emerged as a likely replacement but questions remain about who she would choose as a running mate if necessary.

“But … to answer your question directly, I think that they’re gonna get rid of Biden. I think it’s most likely to be Harris and I think she has to pick a moderate Democratic governor,” Christie said, adding that he thinks it could be Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.