New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has remained silent since Republican nominee Donald Trump chose Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate,
North Jersey.com reports.
Christie, who heads Trump’s transition team to prepare for his potential presidential administration, so far has not issued a statement praising Pence's choice.
Trump's decision reportedly has been a bitter disappointment for Christie, who had been one of the front-runners for the post since becoming the first major establishment Republican to endorse the real estate mogul in February.
It was also the second straight presidential campaign that a Republican nominee bypassed Christie after Mitt Romney chose Rep. Paul Ryan instead even though the governor’s popularity had not yet been rocked by fallout from the Bridge-gate scandal.
Ed Rollins, a longtime Republican strategist, told
The New York Times that Christie "was such a lapdog and tried so hard, he ended up not just losing badly in the presidential stakes, I think he just looks much weaker than he was before by his rabid pursuit of Trump."
Christie now appears to be left with the option of pressing even harder for a role in a Trump administration if he wins the presidency, with some reports saying he is a likely choice for attorney general or chief of staff.
But that prospect is also very unclear. Congress would likely make Christie’s involvement in Bridge-gate a major issue in any confirmation hearings.
Trump was said to have personally favored Christie, but he drew sharp objections from his daughter Ivanka and her husband, real estate tycoon Jared Kushner. Both are said to be the most influential people around Trump, with Kushner playing de facto co-campaign manager alongside Paul Manafort.
Kushner, according to sources, has long disliked Christie, who as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey sent Kushner's father to prison.
“The Kushners have a tremendous distaste for Christie. They think he was extremely heavy-handed and unfair in his prosecution of their father and this is something they haven't forgotten," a source close to the Trump campaign told Newsmax.