News / Politics

US 'reactive and weaker' under Obama: Potential 2016 GOP presidential contender

Saturday, 28 March 2015 8:35 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 28 March 2015 8:38 PM ]

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie

Republicans hoping to capture the White House in 2016 are intensifying their attack on the incumbent US president, with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie asserting the United States has become a “reactive and weaker country” under the Obama administration.

Christie, a potential 2016 GOP presidential contender, made the remarks on Saturday during a speech before some 800 of Michigan Republicans gathered at a local Republican Party annual fundraising dinner in suburban Detroit.

“America under Barack Obama has become a defensive, reactive and weaker country both at home and abroad,” Christie said.

“When America doesn’t lead, bad people with bad intentions do lead,” he told the crowd in Shelby Township. “We need a leader in the White House once again who knows how to lead America and lead the world.”

Christie also attacked Obama’s economic policy at home, criticizing his assertion that the US must raise the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour.

“We need to deal with the problem of income equality, not by raising the minimum wage,” he said.

According to recent polls, Christie is trailing a handful of potential Republican presidential contenders.

Should he launch a White House bid, Christie is likely to face several strong candidates, such as Senators Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker as well as Jeb Bush, the two-time Florida governor and the son and brother of former US presidents.

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