Christie attacks Clinton, criticizes fantasy football discussion during GOP debate (VIDEO)

The third Republican presidential debate Wednesday night was not really dominated by Donald Trump and Ben Carson. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did have his moments in the limited amount of time he actually spoke. Technically, Hillary Clinton wasn’t involved in the form, but you wouldn’t know that if you focused on Christie because he sure focused on Clinton.

While it remains to be seen if he got it, the Garden State governor needed all the help he could get. Real Clear Politics averaged the most recent five national polls and Christie was in 10th place at just 2.4 percent support more than 24 percentage points behind frontrunner Donald Trump (28.8 percent).

There were no real sharp barbs by Christie at his fellow Republicans, but he did take aim at the Democratic frontrunner, Clinton.

“You know, I see a Socialist, an Isolationist, and a Pessimist, and for the sake of me I can't figure out which one is which,” Christie joked. “The Socialist says they're going to pay for everything, and give you everything for free, except they don't tell you they're going to raise your taxes to 90 percent to pay for it. The Isolationist is one who will continue to follow the Foreign Policy that has fewer democracies today, than when Barack Obama came into office around the world. But I know who the pessimist is, it's Hillary Clinton.”

There wasn’t a lot weakness on the Republican debate stage, according to Christie who said the weakness was coming from the Democratic Party. He vowed his was the one GOP candidate with what it takes to take down Clinton.

"You put me on that stage against her next September (and) she won't get within 10 miles of the White House," Christie said.

The governor insisted that he was the only candidate who has proposed a social security reform plan and might have scored some points when a question on the topic came his way.

“The government has lied to you and they have stolen from you,” Christie said. “They told you that your Social Security money is in a trust fund. All that's in that trust fund is a pile of IOU's for money that they spent on something else a long time ago and they've stolen from you because they know now they can't pay these benefits because Social Security is going to be insolvent in seven to eight years.”

Christie invoked Clinton’s name in all but three answers to limited amount of questions fired at him and one of them was about fantasy football and he used that opportunity to blast the moderator who asked it.

“How about this? How about we get the government to do what they are supposed to be doing, secure our borders, protect our people and support American values and American families. Enough on fantasy football, let people play, who cares,” he asked.

The governor also bashed President Barack Obama for not supporting police officers in America.

“The number one job of the President is to protect the safety and security of the American people,” he said. “This President has failed, and when I'm in the oval office, police officers will know they have the support of the President of the United States, that's the real moral authority we need in the Oval Office.”

When asked if General Motors executives deserved to be in jail for covering up faulty ignition switches as has been alleged. He said, “You bet they do.” He added that the Justice Department under Obama has been too political.

In his closing statement Christie said he was talking the viewers and said he’s experienced, tested and he’s ready to be President of the United States.

The fourth GOP presidential debate is scheduled for Nov. 10 in Milwaukee and if Christie does not improve his position in the polls he would run the risk of not making the cut to participate on the main stage. He would be relegated to the earlier event, the so-called kiddie table.

Kevin McArdle has covered the State House for New Jersey 101.5 news since 2002. Contact him at kevin.mcardle@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @kevinmcardle1.