Governor Chris Christie Is Our Nightmare, Say Democratic Insiders About 2012 Race

Republican New Jersey governor Chris Christie is the person Democrats fear most in the run for the White House in 2012.

At a farewell reception and dinner for Senator Chris Dodd at the Irish Embassy this week I heard his name over and over.

Among the Democratic bigs present were Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Patrick Leahy, Vicki Kennedy and Teddy's sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, as well as congressmen and Maryland governor Martin O'Malley.

I found the mood surprisingly upbeat given the grim results of the midterms.

Perhaps it was the caliber of the Republican field for 2012 that was giving them some relief. Clearly they would relish a face off against Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee.

Mitt Romney is taken more seriously, but right now Christie is the name that resonates.

Democrats know they lost the blue collar Catholic ethnic vote in a line stretching from Upstate New York across to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and the Mid West.

As an Italian./Irish Catholic Christie speaks directly to that constituency.

The next election gets fought over similar terrain.Christie's appeal like Joe Biden's is to that very same ethnic coalition.

If you think Biden was brought onto the ticket for his foreign policy experience and not his deep Scranton Irish roots appeal I have some a bridge to sell you.

Christie is also moderate enough that they know he will not be easily consigned to the Tea Party tea chest when the going gets rough if he decided to run.

But most of all he is seen as plain spoken, articulate and prepared to take on special interests. He's now the candidate in the way Obama was for Democrats last time, unencumbered by baggage, liked at all levels of the party so far, but still somewhat of a mystery.

It is an amazing reality that just over a year in office and still a novice, he is the candidate who sets the alarm bells ringing in top Democratic Party circles.

That speaks to either Republican weakness at the top of the ticket, or the new reality in this ADD age that a fresh face come election time trumps the same old visage every time.

How Obama would shape up against a popular East Coast governor would make for a fascinating battle and not one the White House could have forseen when Christie was first elected.

Of course he keeps saying he won't run but Obama, a first time senator,was making the same kind of noises four years ago.

This could get very interesting.

 

Follow Niall O'Dowd on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NiallODowd

Comments

[fedup57]

12:01 PM on 11/22/2010

I met Chris Christie at a law enforcement seminar in 2006. He told us he was behind us 100% in our fight against street gangs and crime. Since becoming governor, there have been massive layoffs of police and firefighters here in NJ, schools now charge anywheres from $200.00 to $1500.00 for kids to participate in after school activities like sports because of cuts, (I could be wrong on the $1500.00) and would not tax the wealthy in this state. Take a look at NJ and this is what you will get for the country.

[jcdf2]

11:51 PM on 11/21/2010

So far Christi cost NJ
-$400 million in education grants that maybe more political than just plain incompetent
-Canceled the tunnel project, which NJ now has to repay the feds $270-$350 million plus the feds offered NJ and additional $350 to continue the project. eventually the tunnel will be built at a much higher cost to NJ

So far Christi has cost NJ over a billion plus. I don't think that's a record to run on

[docheels]

07:11 PM on 11/21/2010

What Chris Christie has what most politicians don't have (Dems and Repubs) is a strong, clear message. Others, regardless of party, should follow his example, even if it's a different message. When people understand it, they say so at the polls. Our President got elected the same way.

[JayMonaco]

05:55 PM on 11/21/2010

When was the last time a truly obese man was elected President?

When was the last time anyone from New Jersey was elected President?

That's all I have to say.

[Stevepolitik]

02:56 PM on 11/26/2010

1912- 100 years ago- It was Woodrow Wilson, a more Virginia guy but was governor of NJ and was a lot like Obama; cold as ice and had very good education. NJ is talked a lot about more than before with NJ housewives, NJ shore. NJ is made fun but its becoming a culture state to watch. The last overweight president was Howard Taft in 1908. Weight doesn't matter I hope like being a black man who never suffered from African American troubles with race and IL did not have a president since Lincoln 1864. Christie needs to run and would be a landslide win against Obama the great.

[JayMonaco]

03:16 PM on 11/26/2010

haha I think those are interesting, but overly optimistic, projections about a guy who's not an all-star candidate.

A challenge? Sure. I'm not saying Obama the Great would run him over. But a landslide victory for Christie? I think that's a pipe dream.

[Stevepolitik]

03:00 PM on 11/26/2010

Another interesting Fact Woodrow Wilson was Governor of NJ for only 3 years before moving into the White House. Christie run!!

[PC Contrarian]

02:56 PM on 11/21/2010

Just like Dems lost big in the midterms,
Bush's favorably ratings have improved since Obama has pushed his policies.

The more progressives get your way, the more elections the Dems lose,
and the higher Bush's ratings go.

We got a hint in 2009 when a Repub won Ted Kennedy's senate seat, then when Christie won the governorship in NJ, and A GOP became the new governor in VA.
You guys were in denial after those three losses, as were most Dems;
that's part of the reason the Dems lost big this month,
you didn't read the tea leaves.

If you hold on to your existing beliefs, and don't face reality,
2012 will be another lesson; and Bush will be even more popular then than now..

I'm sure you have your justifications, but that's the trend.

[VeritasVincit2]

08:11 PM on 11/21/2010

except that the right is enacting Bush's policies again. People will hate him and them in a month

[PC Contrarian]

09:57 PM on 11/21/2010

If the "People " you're talking about are Dems;
nothing has or will change, when it comes to their feelings for Bush.

[sojourning]

08:42 PM on 11/21/2010

So, give us your take on Republican nirvana. Does it include taking out those two other Evil Empires with nukes (in addition to NPR)? Does it include a continuation of the trickle down theory? Does it include even more legislation to make the rich richer and the poor poorer?
Their reading teabagger leaves and will be just as extinct as them in a few years.

[PC Contrarian]

09:55 PM on 11/21/2010

"If you hold on to your existing beliefs, and don't face reality,
2012 will be another lesson; and Bush will be even more popular then than now."

Thanks for giving examples of the beliefs I was talking about.

[fairwayhill]

02:24 PM on 11/21/2010

I still believe Mitt Romney is much more dangerous for the time being.

[Stevepolitik]

03:02 PM on 11/26/2010

Totally not! Mitt Romney is the GOP's John Kerry. Good looks can only go so far!

[Bergen2]

12:35 PM on 11/21/2010

If Democrats roll over and play dead, any Republican candidate will have a chance.

[BigLeftbowski]

10:27 AM on 11/21/2010

The right wing media's canonization of Chris Christie is proof that the GOP has no one to run against President Obama in 2012.

[twinskids]

12:03 PM on 11/21/2010

I agree, this is why they are all chirping about the big bird in the nest.

[BigLeftbowski]

09:42 AM on 11/21/2010

While the democratic party should take Chris Christie seriously (look what happened to Corzine), they also need to realize that Christie is the new Sarah Palin -he's clearly being hyped by the conservative media into something he definitely is not. There's also a good deal of corruption surrounding him that will be brought to light if he does step into the national spotlight. The only people who think Christie's been a good governor are people who don't live in New Jersey, with the exception of Bergen County residents, who are benefiting from Christie's gutting of the infrastructure of the state to keep the tax cuts for the rich.

[eyelashviper]

11:03 AM on 11/21/2010

Agree, though by 2012 the state of New Jersey will be suffering greatly, under the policies of this corporate apologist, so his national "reputation" might not be so shiny...

[Stevepolitik]

03:04 PM on 11/26/2010

OMG teachers wont be able to get automatic raises or our taxes might go down as a result of Christie. You only dislike Christie if you work for the state. for the love of god. LOL.

[thor424]

03:08 PM on 11/23/2010

Christie is viewed very favorably in NJ. Most people do not like cuts to education, police, etc but the system is broken and has been abused by the unions for many years. Almost all of NJ residents understand this and like his straight talk. Your swipe on bergen county is wrong but is an example of whats wrong with DC. We send more money per capita to DC and are dead last in what is returned to our state. Over the last ten years, 60 billion dollars of wealth has left NJ b/c of our high taxes, wealthy people have moved to states with lower taxes. We are over taxed in every way, so most people here with a little horse sense understand that smaller gov't, less taxes, stop double dipping and ridiculous teacher, superintendent, police pay just makes sense. I voted for Christie and believe he will continue to do the right thing here....he may have Al Smith disease but he is a jersey guy and thats what we care about here. adios

[phantasma]

09:08 AM on 11/21/2010

Whwn people in the West think of new Jersey we think Tony Soprano...

[futurejd]

11:32 PM on 11/20/2010

Rubio is someone to contend with, in the way that the GOP hoped Jindal would've been. Christie maybe hype but he speaks in very simple language...the language that most GOPers and Tea partiers respond too. Obama and his staff have to work on his message and simplifying it. They take the electorate as being smarter than they are. Once they do that then and only then will he control the message.

[yweston]

05:05 AM on 11/21/2010

Last year I read an article about David Plouffe's fear of Jon Thune. And I've read a zillion articles that Dems shouldn't dismiss Palin at their own peril. And then they started with Christie and Rubio. Who knows what will really happen two years from NOW. Although the media thinks differently. I'm hoping for Palin because I don't think she can win. She cost Republicans the Presidency in 2008. She cost Republicans the Senate. And she may cost Republicans the Presidency in 2012.

[Jeany]

10:30 AM on 11/21/2010

Yup, the aggregate of the reporting would have us Dems afraid of our shadows...

[dbratt71]

11:10 PM on 11/20/2010

Christie is all hype. I live in NJ and it's a crime what he's done here. He's gone after teachers, police and firefighters so millionaires can get bigger tax breaks. He is a disaster.
http://www.bluejersey.com/diary/17194/christie-has-lost-the-benefit-of-the-doubt

[yweston]

04:45 AM on 11/21/2010

That's what all my relatives tell me. It's all hype especially from Fox... He does back millionaire tax cuts while punishing civil servents. And he's passing the deficit on to the municipalities. Also, his fight with teachers and their unions will only drive away "good teachers". NJ will get the bottom of the barrell. 657 schools in NJ "flunked" Federal standards. He bungled the $400 million grant. And..lied about it. He is a typical Republican. Says "NO" to everything except tax cuts for his buddies, of course". But offers NO alternate solutions.

[dbratt71]

09:31 AM on 11/21/2010

It's true, NJ's property taxes are out of control. All of us welcomed ideas for reform. And Christie has them; unfortunately they exacerbate the problem. He slashed state aid to towns and then put a 2% cap on property taxes. Towns are scrambling like mad to actually keep things afloat. His plan is tantamount to a doctor prescribing a guillotine for a brain tumor. Yeah, it cuts away the problem, but it kills the patient in a gruesome fashion.

He has offered no strategic solutions to effectively address the problems our state faces.

Sadly, this is standard operating procedure for him. He actually refused to go after the mob in NJ when he was a prosecutor saying that it didn't really exist here. Ironically, a family member of his was indicted around that time for...mob ties. Sigh.

[mitsie]

08:50 AM on 11/21/2010

Here's another NJ resident and I agree. Talk about a good turnout, you will see every union member, every cop in every state turning out to vote against him, same with teachers and firemen. Of couse, he manages to make the front page of the "Sunbeam" each day because this is a right wing paper. Someone is writing almost every day though, he dosen't know what he's doing, or his staff are giving him bad advice. The most recent, free ez-rider passes to the Commissioners of the Bridge Authority, which was stopped in 2008, before he was even elected. All this guy knows how to do, is eat.

[Third World Calif]

11:02 PM on 11/20/2010

i am already seeing the fear among the libs with christie and rubio Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww

[riff4u]

11:06 PM on 11/20/2010

Rubio took the hispanic vote in Florida. He won't do it nationwide because the GOP is anti immigrant, anti hispanic, anti.........about anti everything. It's still a party of old white farts who are paranoid about their decreasing relevance.

[GranE]

11:05 AM on 11/21/2010

Don't bet on it. Jeb Bush's son who is half Latino is working hard in Texas to convince Latinos they need to be Republican. A Latino wrote a letter to the editor praising Bush and saying its the way to go.

[sdcloke]

11:33 PM on 11/20/2010

As long as the Republican/Tea Bagger economic policy is tax breaks for the rich and the class warfare they are declaring on the poor and middle class they have no hopes of winning another election, midterm or otherwise.

[Third World Calif]

11:42 PM on 11/20/2010

the largest turnover since 1946 in the house regarding the last election..need i say more..get off welfare and work

[sdcloke]

11:01 PM on 11/20/2010

'I have some a bridge to sell you.' Maybe you should take an English class or a class in editing before trying to sell your bloated, fat cat, screw the poor and middle class candidate here.

[pat2 718]

10:53 PM on 11/20/2010

Argh! That's not how you do it guys... What you *say* is:

Nope, we're not worried about Christie as the GOP candidate, nope nope nope. We'd *love* Christie as the GOP candidate. But please oh please... *Not Palin*. That would really have us *sooo* scared!

"Please don't throw me in that briar patch!"