'Are you a chicken or just a loser?', Chris Christie's camp provokes Donald Trump with new ad

A group supporting Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor, has released a television ad aimed at goading Donald Trump into a debate, suggesting that Christie sees a prime-time televised showdown as a way to thwart Trump's bid for the Republican nomination.

The ad's narrator taunts Trump, stating, "If you don't go, you'll be called a coward, a chicken—reduced to throwing spitballs from the sidelines. So, Donald, you need to decide, are you a chicken or just a loser?"

The 60-second spot not only employs Trumpian taunts but also provides a glimpse into the issues Christie would likely address in a debate, including Trump's impeachments and indictments, his 2020 election loss, and his unfulfilled promises regarding the Mexican border wall, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and balancing the budget.

Christie's super political action committee, Tell It Like It Is PAC, has reserved approximately $122,000 in ad time, mostly online and in New Hampshire, the first primary election state. The Christie campaign announced that the PAC and campaign combined raised $7.5 million in the second quarter.

While Christie has qualified for the first party-sanctioned debate of the 2024 primaries, which is scheduled for August 23 in Milwaukee, Trump has hinted that he might skip the event, expressing reluctance to provide his opponents with a platform.

Despite polling at 2.6% in the national average of polls by RealClearPolitics, Christie fares better in New Hampshire with 4.7% support. Christie believes Trump's ego will ultimately lead him to show up in Milwaukee, as he would not want to miss the opportunity to engage in a televised event where he is not present.