Christie to embrace underdog role as he launches 2016 bid

The launch of the Republican governor's White House campaign is the culmination of years of groundwork that began even before his landslide re-election to a second term as governor in 2013, but one nearly felled by scandal and a descent from his standing as one of the nation's most popular state leaders to a politician whose approval ratings have reached record lows at home.

With so many candidates in the field — Christie will be the 14th major Republican to enter the race, with two more likely before summer's end — and no clear front-runner, they say they can forge a path to the GOP nomination.

Christie will kick off his campaign at the gymnasium of his old high school in Livingston, New Jersey, where he served in student government and played for the celebrated baseball team.

Christie often emphasizes his working-class roots, telling the story of his father, who paid his way through college while working at a Breyers ice cream plant.

While Christie's turn as head of the Republican Governors Association was widely viewed as a success in the 2014 midterm elections, and the traffic scandal has never touched him personally, he has so far failed to build much momentum in polling.