There is a strategic logic to that approach. Christie, according to those familiar with his thinking, would occupy a middle lane in a potential primary, positioned between those who embrace Trump without reservation and would never criticize him, and any candidate who sought to capture the Never Trump vote.

Christie thinks Trump’s influence in the party is waning, according to several sources who have spoken with him. They say that Trump has lost his mojo since being deplatformed from his once-mighty Twitter account and that Republicans such as Virginia‘s governor-elect, Glenn Youngkin, last week showed a way to win without directly embracing Trump…

Ed Rollins, who heads a pro-Trump super PAC, said Republican voters won’t reward Christie for trying to run as a once-loyal Trump insider who’s also a critic.

“To the Trump people he’ll come across as a traitor. And they’ll come after him, big-time,” Rollins said.