A new anti-Donald Trump ad campaign launched Friday imagines New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie crying for help as he stands next to the Republican presidential candidate he endorsed.
In one billboard, Christie flanks Trump in a widely mocked photo of the governor looking positively morose after his endorsement of the billionaire. A thought bubble with “HELP” floats over Christie’s head.
Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey, the group behind the ads across Christie’s state, are urging the governor to condemn Trump’s rhetoric, which the group says is hateful, sexist, and racist.
New campaign against Christie’s alliance w/ Trump, seen on a billboard in Trenton. pic.twitter.com/pnhXZTOvfj
— Dustin Racioppi (@dracioppi) April 15, 2016
“We’ve seen, over the past few months, this growth of sexist, racist, hateful rhetoric,” Aaron Keyak, the group’s founder, told TPM. “This isn’t within the bounds of regular public discourse. We don’t want this to become the new normal.”
Keyak said Bridges is focusing on Christie because he “used to be a responsible Republican.” He also said the group is prepared to continue the campaign “well into” next year, but would pull the ads “tomorrow” if Christie were to “forcefully and consistently” denounce Trump’s rhetoric.
The group touted a six-figure ad buy of digital, static, and mobile billboards and another six-figure sum spent online advising over the next few weeks, according to its website. Keyak said the billboards are concentrated on the New Jersey Turnpike and in Trenton, with the online ads targeted to the groups targeted by Trumps policies.
On its website, the group points to Trump’s delay in strongly disavowing an endorsement from former KKK leader David Duke and his remarks that if abortion were outlawed, women who get abortions should be punished among the “hateful rhetoric” Christie continues to condone through his support.
Another one pic.twitter.com/hQKGTI1MWk
— Dustin Racioppi (@dracioppi) April 15, 2016
This post has been updated.
