Is GOP field about to get a major new entrant?
Under the headline “Chris Christie seriously considering run for president in 2012,” the Star Ledger in New Jersey reports:
BATON ROUGE — Gov. Chris Christie is seriously rethinking his months of denials and may launch a campaign for the White House after all, a source close to the governor said tonight.
In the last week, Christie has been swayed away from his earlier refusals to run by an aggressive draft effort from a cadre of Republicans and donors unhappy with the GOP field, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity….
At a campaign rally here today for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Christie continued to criticize Obama’s leadership, but ignored several questions from reporters about whether he would seek the White House.
“If you’re looking for leadership in America you’re not going to find it in the Oval Office,” Christie said today in Baton Rouge.
The rally and a fundraiser afterward capped off a cross-country tour by the governor, where his Reagan Library speech Tuesday served to only stoke speculation that he might reverse course and seek the Republican nomination for president…
In addition, the governor’s wife, Mary Pat, no longer objects to a presidential run, according to an adviser to the governor.
The governor has famously said “my wife would kill me” as a reason not to run. However, a few months ago former first lady Barbara Bush called Mary Pat to assuage her concerns about life in the White House, the adviser said.
If so, welcome to the Big Top, governor. Given factors such as geography (another Northeast governor) and where he falls on the political spectrum, the person with the most to lose from Christie’s entry would be Mitt Romney. And it would certainly add some intrigue to the next Republican debate.
– Jay Bookman
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429 comments Add your comment
mike "hussein" smith
September 30th, 2011
11:23 am
Christie can’t handle the heavy lifting. (John Ford died at age 80).
Practical Matti
September 30th, 2011
11:29 am
philospher,
That’s fair. What we expect from a candidate is a personal choice as well.
I am the bitzch at the office who doesn’t get all excited when the *bleep bleep* Krispy Kremes show up every week, and all the sugar addicts start shoveling them in their faces (one is never enough!) and carrying on like they just won the lottery. Meanwhile, our company health insurance costs & premiums keep going up, and they’re singling out the handful of smokers who still have the balls to step into the corner of shame on their break twice a day for a puff. (Not me, but it’s totally unfair.) Uh… the junk food junkies aren’t part of the problem? Hello? Everything has to be “celebrated” with cake, candy, ice cream, pizza, and donuts, and I’m like, “HEY! Nobody needs that!” So, I’m the B-word for pointing it out.
Strawman
September 30th, 2011
11:35 am
“And how, pray tell, is that even remotely connected to your point ”
It was related to YOUR point, numbnuts. Don’t bogart that joint, my friend.
The real Fletch
September 30th, 2011
11:38 am
Ayn Rant – “What has he done, what does he advocate?” – coming from a supporter of a one term senator and previous community organizer of one of the poorest communities in the country, in the most corrupt and indebted states in the country…
It’s funny because he is trying the exact same BS that has crippled his home state and it is, surprise, not working when you can’t just grease a few palms. Things are bubbling to the surface now that his chronies aren’t as eager to defend him. Solyundra is childs play compared to what he was doing in chicago for decades.
GT
September 30th, 2011
11:41 am
An honest Chris Christie couldn’t win the nomination. I wonder if some of the moderates don’t jump ship and land in the Democratic Party like the the radical right Democrats did with the Republican Party.
Get Real
September 30th, 2011
11:44 am
If Christie does run it is game, set and match for the Republicans…count on it
The real Fletch
September 30th, 2011
11:45 am
OK, have a look at how Democrats handle Obama’s home state. They raised personal and business income taxes by up to 50% across the board – keep in mind what Obama is trying to do now…and their debt actually INCREASED. Plus, CME, Caterpillar, Boeing, United and a host of other companies are preparing to leave the city with 1000s of jobs. You all really don’t get it – the next time you hear Durbin and Obama talking about millionaires and billionaires not paying their fare share – please realize that it doesn’t matter – they will just spend that money, hell, it is already spent on this new “jobs” program:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-il–illinoisbudget,0,3218700.story
This is their state, the numbers do not lie, Bush had nothing to do with it…truth hurts.
Road Scholar
September 30th, 2011
11:56 am
Weight is an issue he must deal with, but it may affect his decision. Look at the “wear and tear” ALL presidents have gone through. Grey hair, more stress, etc. I’ve been through it, but not at that level. But my concern is with his kids. I lost my father early in life to a heart attack. He was overweight and stressed out. Kids growing up w/o a father is not recomended and something that should drive his decision. I do not condone some of the talk of him being the “Pillsbury Dough Boy” and the smears that accompany it.
I am also surprised by the right wanting him to run and as a result, reduce his time with his family. Is this the family values they expouse? But yet they blindly criticize minorities, mainly African Americans, whose fathers are not around to help raise their children. Don’t get me wrong, I like Christie but drop a few pounds (I know I should also) but before he considers running.
GT
September 30th, 2011
11:57 am
The real Fletch, the economy is improving in Chicago, no improvement in Atlanta. If you are looking for results Chicago is the place. They have 30,000 new jobs in Chicago, Atlanta lost 12,000. So what is your point?
yuzeyurbrane
September 30th, 2011
12:04 pm
Christie is a politician with a future but he would be foolish to enter the race this year. He would only split the already small moderate Republican vote and assure a cakewalk to the Republican nomination for Perry. As for his own chances, get real–the GOP is controlled by the Teaparty this year and Christie’s views, once scrutinized by him, would assure his rejection. I hate to give advice to the GOP but the best thing for them would be a crushing defeat of Perry by Obama followed by a purge of the extremists from the party.
Upon review
September 30th, 2011
12:12 pm
GT, Cannot be sure but I believe his point is that increased taxes on business in Chicago have caused job losses. You’ll have to look very, very carefully for this point. No mention made of Atlanta.
Get Real
September 30th, 2011
12:27 pm
yuzeyurbrane
I guess we will have to agree to disagree as the ultimate goal is to defeat Obama and end the liberal/progressive experiment. If Christie runs he is far and away the most likely candidate to defeat Obama
GT
September 30th, 2011
12:37 pm
Upon review, we are getting to be like one of those stuck records in my younger days when people had record players. We are so use to all the country being depressed that we in Georgia have not looked up to notice the rest of the country is leaving the poverty train and we are the only people on it. When you do nothing but complain, repeat the same old tired line and no other action that is what happens to you.
MrLiberty
September 30th, 2011
12:41 pm
Is there really a need for another big government, pro federal reserve, pro warfare, pro empire, status quo republican?? Every one of the candidates except Ron Paul already advocate those positions.
Ron Paul 2012. Our last hope.
Jay
September 30th, 2011
12:43 pm
No stands, there were not. And poor delivery may have had a lot to do with it.
Howard Dean
September 30th, 2011
12:51 pm
Christie doesn’t have a cocaine past like Bush and Obama!
Just wondering
September 30th, 2011
1:00 pm
Has anyone else noticed that some terrorist leaders have been smoking more lately?
Un-Fit
September 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
The guy looks like a heart attach waiting to happen!
Un-Fit - sp correction
September 30th, 2011
2:12 pm
The guy looks like a heart attack waiting to happen!
TruthBe
September 30th, 2011
2:38 pm
I hope not. Christie doesn’t believe in the 2nd admendment.
TruthBe
September 30th, 2011
2:40 pm
Obama has tp go. Impeach the commie Obama.
GT
September 30th, 2011
5:11 pm
Christie for President and Newt VP, they would have to parade them around in a dump truck.
eddy
September 30th, 2011
5:13 pm
Hey Jay! Publish Herman Cain’s resume and then Obama’s. Compare which one really has accomplished something and has the academic credentials to be in a position of leadership.
For Obama: affirmative action has met the Peter Principle and it is reinforced each day that he is ill equipped to be President, community organizer OK but certainly not President.
Herman: his resume speaks for itself. Unless you are blinded by ideology which of course the majority of this blog are.
Christie would be excellent but of course Anyone But Obama will do!!!!
And for the Morgan Freeman’s of the world…..it is not because Obama is Black. He is incompetent and his policies clearly illustrate this. In Freeman’s world, a black man can’t possibly be incompetent. Each one is excellent and has risen to the esteemed heights because he is excellent. And if you don’t believe this, then you are a racist!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha!
GT
September 30th, 2011
5:32 pm
Man ran a pizza parla, get real. Nice guy but hardly qualified to be president of the United States.
In a white man’s world any black is incompetent and anyone who defends them worse. Since you don’t have an education you insult the finest and the brightest. I am sure a pizza man is a good role model for a man of the world such as eddy,
GM
September 30th, 2011
5:36 pm
eddy
Stupid eddy call it what it is, the same thing the Rep were for now they are against because Obama is for it.
The idiots and bigots may want to deny what it really is, but get your little mind off misinformed fox news and watch some of the news media around the world, who think most of white Americans are a bunch of Anti Americans who hate their leader because he is black.
Hey tea party Terroist, you are joke to the world remember their are more people of color around the world then white so when you make insults at the President, you are offending a lot of people around the world, but you are to stupid to realize you are putting all Americans in harm way.
Martin Williams
September 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
Another idiot wants to enter the GOP race. This is NOT good for America. When people like Newt, Rick Perry, and now Chris, are trying to be president in this great Country, it is a SAD day. You all think about it. Rick Perry, president of the United States of America……..WOW. Perry is only menat for Texas and NOT U.S., thanks. Come on America we can do better.
real america
September 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
Fat boy is not going to run because he has mob ties, all the kick backs will come out, whats funny he is not conservative at all, but rep party is so desperate to run against Obama they would vote for satan.
Obama will win in 2012, because no body wants to go back to the Bush years, oh I forgot low middle class whites rather have big business rake middle class Americans under the coal, instead of standing up to these business for sending our jobs overseas they rather attack Obama, what a bunch of losers.
GM
September 30th, 2011
5:58 pm
Fat boy talks about the President, yet he was the first one begging Obama for funds after hurricane Irene””
Are the Rep party just plain idiots and hypocrites? dont they realize the Dem have them on tape with their double talk.
DawgDad
September 30th, 2011
6:08 pm
Very interesting seeing all the liberals post opinions on the GOP candidates, like they’re desperately searching for someone to vote FOR over here in our tent. News flash: The GOP candidate in 2012 is not going to be even close to as liberal as Bush was.
Might try rallying YOUR troops around YOUR candidate – Dems are scurrying like rats on deck running for cover from Obama (How’s that Obama “jobs” bill doing in the Dem-controlled Senate?). Political campaigns tend to produce grandiose empty promises. When “hope and change” is perceived as unfulfilled, well, it will come right back to bite you with the independents.