Realistically, will any GOP POTUS candidate win NJ in the next 10-20 years? Doubtful. Look at MA - RR was the last GOP to win the state - in 1984; nearly 30 years ago.
You can't fix stupid. Combine that with a majority of critters in states that vote for a living (layabouts, illegals and union members) and it's a pretty hopeless situation.
p.s. Understanding that some states are hopeless REALLY makes repealing the 17th logical, eh? That exchange still has me laughing.
The big guy has appeal far beyond helping in his home state but I don’t think he’ll be the pick for several reasons. CC would be like picking Pawlenty. Pawlenty would help in the midwest but his own state would probably still vote Obama. He could probably just eat Joe Biden in the VP debate though like Jabba the Hutt eating a space rat, that would be fun.
NJ was fairly close in 2004 but getting from 46% to 50% is a tall order for us there. HW Bush in 1988 is the last Republican to top 50% in any statewide race. CC himself won 48-45 with 6% going to some John Anderson type.