Perhaps. He was a puppet. Christie destroyed his political campaign in a two minute soundbite.
Substance should dictate that. Not sound bites in a debate. Christie is a fat fuckface riding trumps coat tails hoping for a cabinet position because his career as gov is all but done. And he was the most establishment candidate up there not named Jeb.
I think the establishment tried to get cozy with him when it was apparent Jeb was done. Doesn't make him a puppet though. He was solid. Not perfect. His one major mistake was gang of 8. I think he knew it too. He trusted the dems way too much and probably learned the hard way not to do that ever again. Besides it was nothin worse than what reagan did on immigration which was also a mistake he was remorseful over.