He could have set the special election for the same day as the 2013 general election, when he (Christie) is running for re-election. But them his Democratic opponent for Governor would be on the same ticket with Cory Booker (the likely Democratic candidate for Senator), and Christie didn’t want that.
POS gutless phony ....
I think he could have also just let his appointed replacement hold the seat until the term expired in 2014. The special election will cost NJ taxpayers almost $25 million.