Chris Christie: Christine O'Donnell Created 'Missed Opportunity To Have A Really Good United States Senator' (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), one of the GOP's rising stars who is pointed to as a model for Republicans in the Northeast, sharply criticized Christine O'Donnell on Sunday, saying her candidacy led to a "missed opportunity" for the party to pick up the Delaware Senate seat.

"I think Delaware was a missed opportunity to have a really good United States senator, Mike Castle, and that's why I endorsed him in the primary," said Christie on NBC's "Meet the Press." He added, however, that the Tea Party was a "net positive" although there would be "variance around the country."

WATCH:

O'Donnell has said that the Republican establishment didn't give her more support because of their "bruised egos." "The deal they tried to package was soundly rejected by the voters, and they just coudln't stomach it to say, 'I was wrong,'" O'Donnell told NBC last week. "What we did was bust up the back room deals, put the political process back in the hands of the people. The voters of Delaware chose me as opposed to who the party anointed."

UPDATE, 10:49 a.m.: Also on "Meet the Press," Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who was a strong supporter of O'Donnell, criticized Republicans who refused to get behind her candidacy. "Unfortunately, she was so maligned by Republicans, I don't think she ever had a chance."

He added that Republicans who said she was not a viable candidate in the wake of her primary election win made it difficult for her to get off on the right foot for her run against Democrat Chris Coons.

WATCH:

DeMint had nothing but praise for Christie, however, saying that he was willing to fight the tough battles.

Comments

[jtthomas240]

10:51 AM on 11/19/2010

I like how he missed the point that maybe, just maybe, O'Donnell didn't win because she was a nitwit.

[dmsdzinr]

01:48 PM on 11/08/2010

YEP! GOD missed the opportunity to place a BRAIN in Christine's HEAD!

[pfz]

02:16 PM on 11/08/2010

It is all part of the infinite jest and Gods stand up comedy routine.

[socialmistfit]

01:18 PM on 11/08/2010

The Tea Party seems to have cost GOP Senate opportunities in Delaware and Nevada, but it also resulted in GOP gains in plenty of other state races.

Any new movement is going to first attract slightly whacked candidates until it gains enough mainstream acceptance. There are a lot of quality people out there that believe in Tea Party principles. Now that the Tea Party has established itself as viable, the candidate quality will improve. The GOP gets this and will coop the Tea Party movement. 2012 will be a GOP romp because of it.

[onionboy]

11:53 AM on 11/08/2010

Make O'Donnell Secretary of State. Just drop her in there. She never had anything good to say about Hilary. Let her put her money where her mouth is.

Deer...meet headlights.

[0u812]

11:44 AM on 11/08/2010

Many of the comments here seem to be coming from people who have not actually read the article. Please read before you go off half-cocked.

[panchang810]

03:54 PM on 11/08/2010

Yep.

[panchang810]

03:54 PM on 11/08/2010

But did you mean "half-cooked"?

[farmilyman]

11:08 AM on 11/08/2010

Proof that Christy is unfit for higher office.

The only one who missed the opportunity were the late night comedians.

[den1953]

11:01 AM on 11/08/2010

Having a witch as my Senator and idea's about human brains in mice just seems to take away any knowledge of the constitution or how Government works, that is more like having Christine O'Donnell as a leader of the loony bin, even a heavily sedated group of mental patients have a better clue about politics!

[Jason Berger]

10:55 AM on 11/08/2010

When the first line of your first TV ad is "I am not a witch" then have no business expecting the backing of party leadership - Republican or Democrat. She destroyed her own credibility and then got mad when nobody came to her rescue.

[hang319]

10:19 AM on 11/08/2010

What's the deal with Chrstie? Why is he always looking for a fight?

[tcny]

10:48 AM on 11/08/2010

- Unresolved anger issues?

- Reflexive agressive defense reaction due to concealed truths that could threaten his political career?

- "Stay on the Offensive" stance to mask deep insecurities?

[pfz]

12:48 PM on 11/08/2010

Did you read the article? The headline is a bit misleading Christy backed Coons and is laying claim to the fact the OD was a waste of time and space.

[hang319]

01:46 PM on 11/08/2010

i don't comment on articles I don't read, and my comment is quite clear. Christie is always fighting with someone (this time with the baggers), and I believe that he jumps into far too many fights far too readily. I'm beginning to think he does that to distract -- from what, I don't know, but I have a gut feeling we will find out before his term is over. He's far too busy fighting to be governing worth a darn.

[newtom]

10:15 AM on 11/08/2010

Oh oh oh!!! I have an idea!!!!!!!!!!!! Christine is originally FROM New Jersey. I say, let's send her back and let her be Christie's chief of staff, or campaign organizer or WHATEVER!!! So long as she goes away.

[Ish11]

10:14 AM on 11/08/2010

Christinne is way way smarter that pailin

[b1rd67]

10:58 AM on 11/08/2010

In much the same way that a hamster is smarter than a doorknob.

[den1953]

10:12 AM on 11/08/2010

The Tea party wasn't about good candidates it was about how many stooges they could get into the Senate that would walk lock step with that group of Senators that want to throw out the moderate Republicans. If you are a uneducated duffuss of a candidate as long as you went along with Senator DeMint's plan to radicalise the right wing your in.

[Moboi]

10:50 AM on 11/08/2010

So the tea party are uneducated and studpid because they don't believe the same as you.

Yeah - I can read your post and see culture, progressive, anti-racism, and kindness.

[den1953]

11:10 AM on 11/08/2010

I know one thing you already have a proven track record because you fell for the republicans lies already nothing like not repealing the health care bill, feel like you got sold down the river yet ,how about when your beloved Tea party Senators have to vote on the debt ceiling will you feel smart then?

[jimboy71]

12:30 PM on 11/08/2010

No, they are uneducated and stu..//pid because they are...wait for it...uneducated and st//pid. What else would you say of people like Christine O'Donnel, Sharron Angle, Rand Paul and Sarah Palin who cannot open their mouthes without saying something completely ridiculous? And how about the people whose support of these candidates hinges on their use of three words (although never in a decent context) "constitution" "jebus" and "budget cuts"?

[newtom]

10:09 AM on 11/08/2010

DeMint is still repeating this drivvel? So he must think her qualified. That puts his judgement in question.

[hang319]

10:18 AM on 11/08/2010

DeMint's judgment has always been questionable.

[jussaying]

10:26 AM on 11/08/2010

I agree with you 100%. This is politics at its best! The voters looked at Christine O'Donnell and realized she was not in any way qualified to be in office. No matter how much money DeMinto pumped into her race, she could not pull it off. I hope (against hope) that the Senate will somehow keep from giving DeMinto and his the other Taliban Republicans the power they crave.

[ramsha]

10:05 AM on 11/08/2010

I welcome more candidates like Christine O'Donnell in the republican party.

[tcny]

10:50 AM on 11/08/2010

Palin/O'Donnell 2012!

[0u812]

11:45 AM on 11/08/2010

Great now I have to throw out my Palin/Plumber 2012 shirt.

[coronaboy]

09:51 AM on 11/08/2010

Christine lost the election because she was just being Christine. No Republican, or Democrat lost it for her. Not putting forth policy substance was her downfall, pure and simple. Of course, her off the wall comments did not help either.

[ramsha]

10:07 AM on 11/08/2010

The bottom line is that she is not a 'Senate' material. She could not have done any better.

[chessy]

10:52 AM on 11/08/2010

The Republicans don't look for quality in its candidates because they are all going to be handed "talking points" everyday and told how to walk, talk, etc......