Newspapers demand Christie resign, lament endorsement for supporting Trump

Hit the road, Chris Christie — or face a recall.

That's the message from a joint editorial Tuesday from six New Jersey newspapers that say Gov. Christie has no standing in the state following his endorsement last week of Donald Trump for the GOP presidential nomination.

The newspapers' demand that he steps down comes a day after New Hampshire's most influential newspaper said "boy, were we wrong" for endorsing Christie in November ahead of the state's primary.

The six Gannett-owned New Jersey papers note that the governor spent part of 261 days out of state last year campaigning and then continued to travel to support Trump after he quit his own presidential bid on Feb. 10.

See Donald Trump on the campaign trail:

The papers, including the Asbury Park Press and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post, were spurred to call out Christie after he refused to answer questions Monday from reporters on topics other than the nomination of a state Supreme Court judge.

"For the good of the state, it's time for Christie to do his long-neglected constituents a favor and resign as governor. If he refuses, citizens should initiate a recall effort," the editorial said.

Christie's full-throated support of Trump has also vexed the New Hampshire Union Leader after it endorsed the governor for president.

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The paper said last fall that he was "the one candidate who has the range and type of experience the nation desperately needs." The editorial board also liked that Christie told them he would never endorse Trump.

Related: MSNBC: Buyer's Remorse for Chris Christie After He Endorsed Trump

But that all changed when the Union Leader's publisher, Joseph McQuaid, said Christie went back on his word. In an editorial Monday, McQuaid said the paper is forced to wipe "the egg off our face."

"Rather than standing up to the bully, Christie bent his knee. In doing so, he rejected the very principles of his campaign that attracted our support," the editorial said.

Christie last week said he isn't jockeying for a possible role in a Trump administration by endorsing the real estate mogul. In an interview Monday on New Jersey 101.5 radio, Christie recognized his own influence, saying he's the "highest level endorser that Donald Trump has had."

"I am the person with the most experience in government that is in his circle," Christie said, "and so as a result, that gives me some credibility to make recommendations and suggestions over time where appropriate and for him to consider."

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