As Pa. primary looms for Trump, where's Christie? #Sidelines

When Gov. Christie shocked the political world by endorsing Donald Trump in February, he shot back at critics by saying he doesn't like to "sit on the sidelines."

But with Pennsylvania's critical primary approaching on Tuesday for Trump and two Republican rivals, the sideline is exactly where Christie sits.

That marks a change from recent years, when the New Jersey governor was a hot ticket in Pennsylvania GOP politics, campaigning for then-Gov. Tom Corbett and delivering the keynote speech at the state party's fall meeting in 2014.

"It's curious that he's not here campaigning for Donald Trump in such an important state and delegate contest," said Charlie Gerow, a Harrisburg-based GOP strategist, who advised Carly Fiorina's unsuccessful presidential campaign.

Though Christie's approval ratings have sunk in New Jersey, "the spillover effect of the Philadelphia media market has kept him at least with high name identification in Pennsylvania," Gerow said.

After Christie made the initial endorsement, he appeared with Trump in Florida and other states, even "interviewing" the candidate at one point. On Super Tuesday, Christie memorably stood behind Trump as the New York businessman delivered his victory speech.

And as recently as Wednesday, Christie traveled to Indiana to introduce Trump to Gov. Mike Pence. The Hoosier State's primary is May 3.

"I was there, as I always am ... to bring people together," Christie said that night on the New Jersey 101.5 radio program Ask the Governor. He said he skipped Trump's rallies that day so he could make it home for the show.

Christie has said that if Trump calls to say he "really need[s]" the governor to be somewhere, he tries to oblige.

But the governor has also emphasized that he's busy in New Jersey, especially with Atlantic City's financial crisis.

Another possible reason Christie hasn't crossed the Delaware: Trump is dominating in the polls against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. "Trump does not need the help," said Patrick Murray, a political analyst at Monmouth University.

Murray attended Trump's rally in Harrisburg on Thursday night and said thousands of people couldn't get in - "a pretty good indication that Trump does not need anybody's help to get support in these states."

There have been few opportunities to appear with Trump in Pennsylvania anyway. The candidate made campaign stops only in Harrisburg on Thursday and Pittsburgh the week before. He plans to campaign in West Chester on Monday.

Besides, Christie's more important campaign role is behind the scenes, Murray said, as evidenced by the Pence introduction in Indiana. Christie has already lined up delegates for Trump in New Jersey, and could play an important role doing the same at the party's convention in Cleveland, Murray said. "Christie's appeal is to voters that Trump has already locked in," Murray said. "He's not needed on the stump."

Sure, said U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R., Pa.), who is backing Kasich - Christie could just be busy in New Jersey.

"Or, it could be that it's very difficult to speak as a surrogate on behalf of a candidate who makes so many divisive and incendiary comments," said Dent, who described himself as a Christie friend. "It's very difficult to defend the indefensible."

Whatever the case, Christie figures to play a more prominent role for the New Jersey primary on June 7. In Wednesday's radio interview, Christie predicted his state's Republican voters "will clinch the nomination for Donald Trump on June 7. Take it to the bank."

aseidman@phillynews.com

856-779-3846 @AndrewSeidman

Staff writer Maddie Hanna contributed to this article.