Posted on 11/22/2012 10:13:25 AM PST by SeekAndFind
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is sitting atop many Republicans’ you-know-what-list these days, after what seemed like some unnecessarily excessive displays of ultra-bipartisan praise of Obama in the pre-election wake of Hurricane Sandy. Yes, everyone understands that he's the Republican governor of a blueish state and that some well-placed schmoozing to the federal government can help him gain more federal resources for his domain, but it did seem kind of over-the-top, especially after Romney gave him the keynote slot at the Republican National Convention. As Allahpundit already noted, it's tough to believe that Christie wasn't milking the situation for all it was worth to appeal to Democrats ahead of what could come down to a tough gubernatorial race against Newark Mayor Cory Booker, and he all-too-aptly demonstrated that for all of his conservative bombast, he’s got plenty of wily politician in him, too.
Apparently, it worked out pretty well for him — maybe not with the GOP on the whole, but at least in terms of his state-reelection prospects, it definitely gave him a popularity-boost. Via the WSJ:
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Wednesday had a favorable view of Christie, a 17 percentage point gain from the institute’s last poll in September. …
In terms of Christie’s response to the storm, 92% of the 1,225 residents polled said he handled it very well, including a large number of women, Democrats and those earning less than $50,000. Christie has struggled to maintain the support of women and lower-income residents in the past. …
Republicans nationally have criticized Christie for his support of President Barack Obama‘s response to the storm in New Jersey, but 81% of those polled said it was a sign of “needed cooperation.” Only 12% thought the gestures went too far.
By comparison, the poll notes, Cory Booker’s favorability rating was around 50 percent, and such a big lead over Booker isn’t a bad way for Christie to start off the yearlong countdown to the November 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial race. I don’t know that anybody doubts that Christie is keeping a weather eye on a possible 2016 bid, and if he can get just get reelected back to his governorship, then he’ll be in a prominent position to nurse his image and really start romancing the Republican party. …Weird stuff, this political business.
I will laugh my head off when Christie loses, it will serve as a valuable lesson for Republicans in the future.
If it had not been for the crushing disappointment of losing this election, I would have been laughing my rear end of.
Limbaugh is right that the GOP "consultants" get paid whether or not they actually win. A sweet gig if you can get it.
bleeech ....just another noreaster blowing us out to sea
He’s a sell out. He’s an “Uncle Tom”. He makes me as ill as the puke in office does. No way on this planet could or would I ever vote for him for any office.
Put a harpoon in him-he’s done.
Absolutely.
LLS
The bigger Christy gets... the smaller Coulter gets...
Does Romney have his head up his ass YET?.....
You Republicans in NJ can take him out in the Primary or the General. I’d have no problem with him running for the WH as a Democrat in 2016. He would be their problem. If Booker runs next year we would then have a problem. Let’s hope he doesn’t.
Palin shut out and the next most liberal guy to Romney made keynote speaker.
Romney's GOPe is years ahead of conservatives.
Chris Christie screwed up big. He could of been a contender for a national ticket. I predict he will follow the same path as Charlie Christe. He will switch parties and end up in obscurity. Self inflicted.
Northeastern Liberals cannot win the South.
The Dems could run Deb Wasserman-Schultz and will still beat a Liberal GOPer in a Presidential election. Northeastern Liberals are sure losers for the GOP
>> What response?? He hadn’t done anything
The NY gov recently gave Obama tremendous praise for supporting NY.
Excluding the infiltration of communism into the Democrat party. The country has two clear problems: 1) the structure of the GOP machine, and 2) the Leftwing media that strokes Obama for Sandy, and eviscerates Bush for Katrina.
Charlie Christie never had a chance at the GOP nomination to start with and his Obama ass kissing act for all intents and purposes has killed him as a republican. And after Romney the GOP will never nominate another democrat-light to run for president. Christie and his fans should quit fooling themselves. Even if Christie were conservative to the bone and loved by the base, this 400 pound walking heartattack would not be nominated for president. The walking donut is as high as he will ever get in politics. I would suspect he’ll switch parties sometime next year.
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