See N.J. Billboards Slamming Chris Christie Over Trump Endorsement

Gov. Chris Christie's getting mocked - if not ridiculed - for his endorsement of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump in more than a dozen billboards scattered around New Jersey.

A non-profit group called Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey has posted billboards and online ads Christie urging Christie to "speak out against the hateful rhetoric that has been all too prevalent in the public discourse, including the bigoted remarks constantly made by Donald Trump."

The billboards appear in Bergen, Hudson and Mercer counties. Some of the locations include Exit 18 on the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 46 and 3 in Bergen County, and Routes 33 and 29 in Mercer County.

The group purchased what it's calling a "six-figure billboard campaign," including static, digital and mobile billboards, as well as "six figures worth of online advertising" to call on Christie to denounce Trump.

One billboard shows Christie standing behind Trump after his Super Tuesday joint news conference, an image that has been widely mocked on social media.

Next to him is a thought bubble that says: “Help.” Another says, in large letters, "SAD!" with this inscription: "Speak out against racism, sexism and bigotry, don't stand behind it."

“What’s sad is that anyone would give this a second look,” a Christie spokesman, Brian Murray, said in a response to the ads.

Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey, a 501c4 advocacy organization, launched the statewide campaign targeting Christie for not speaking out, noting that Trump has called Mexican immigrants “rapists" and made other remarks.

Aaron Keyak, president of Bridges Over Politics for New Jersey who has worked for former Democratic Rep. Steve Rothman, said it’s "sad that Governor Christie refuses to strongly speak out against racism, sexism and bigotry – including the hateful rhetoric of Donald Trump."

"If he continues to stand behind such hateful rhetoric, we are prepared to target him for years, including past the end of his gubernatorial term in 2018,” he said.

“Governor Christie’s legacy will be held hostage unless he speaks out and history will remember him as a sad governor," he added. "As minorities, immigrants, women and many others are the focus of hateful rhetoric and even violence, we must build bridges between our different communities, not let politics tear us all down.”