Chris Christie: All Coat, No Tail

Slate ^ | 11/7/13 | David Weigel

[Night Hides Not]

Coulter is the new Meghan McCain.

That picture on the book cover is enhanced, no doubt.

[Redmen4ever]

Republicans appear to have picked up only 2 seats in the state legislature (both in the state Assembly).

In the state Senate, where Republicans were hopeful and Christie actually did some campaigning for candidates, Republicans came close in three districts (14, 28 and 38; losing with 48 percent of the vote) and not so close in two others (1 and 2; losing with 45 percent).

Christie vetoed a bill to raise the minimum wage. A constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage passed with 61 percent of the vote. Christie opposed same-sex marriage, yet the people of the state overwhelming support the court ruling making same-sex marriage into a right.

I think the proper conclusion is that Christie was elected and re-elected for idiosyncratic reasons, and not because he is able to convince blue voters to turn red. In terms of whether he would make a good Presidential candidate in 2016 is how he would do in purple states like Florida and Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Iowa and Colorado; and, hardly whether he puts New Jersey into play.