Hogan says Chris Christie ‘the guy to watch’ on GOP debate stage

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said Sunday that former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is “the guy to watch” during the first debate of the 2024 GOP primary.

“I think Chris Christie is going to be the guy to watch. He’s the most skilled debater. He’s coming after Trump, DeSantis and Ramaswamy, and it’s going to be entertaining,” Hogan said in a panel discussion on CNN’s “State of the Union.” 

Hogan, like Christie, has been critical of former President Trump, and both have encouraged Republicans to move on from the former president. Hogan has decided against joining the crowded field in 2024.

Christie, a Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential primary, helped Trump’s 2016 and 2020 election campaigns, through efforts including debate prep by acting as a stand-in for Trump’s opponents at the time.

Reports have indicated that Trump is not going to attend the debate, citing his double-digit lead in numerous national polls as a primary reason. He has also refused to sign a pledge to support whoever the the GOP nominee ends up being.

Trump instead reportedly plans to lure viewers away from watching the Fox News-hosted debate by releasing a pretaped interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.