Christie boldly declares that Romney will win debate -- and election
Gov. Christie blanketed the TV airwaves this morning to defy political prognosticators from the media and his own party, declaring that Mitt Romney's gaffe about the 47 percent is irrelevant, that the presidential race will be "turned upside down" after Wednesday's debate, and that he'll be too busy working for Romney's reelection in 2016 to run for president himself.
Christie boldly declares that Romney will win debate -- and election
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Gov. Christie blanketed the TV airwaves this morning to defy political prognosticators from the media and his own party, declaring that Mitt Romney’s gaffe about the 47 percent is irrelevant, that the presidential race will be "turned upside down" after Wednesday’s debate, and that he’ll be too busy working for Romney’s reelection in 2016 to run for president himself.
Largely absent from the Romney campaign trail since his keynote address at the Republican convention more than one month ago, the New Jersey governor returned in a big way Sunday morning, appearing simultaneously on the This Week, Face The Nation and Meet The Press.
“He’s had a tough couple of weeks, let’s be honest,” Christie said of Romney on CBS’s Face The Nation.
“But there’s great news for Republicans. We have a candidate who’s going to do extraordinarily well Wednesday night...he’s going to lay out his vision for America, he’s going to contrast what his view is with what the president’s record is and the president’s view for the future. And this whole race is going to be turned upside down come Thursday morning.”
How can a single debate change several polls that show President Obama leading by increasingly wide margins? “Tens of millions of people really for the first time will be tuning into this race,” Christie said on NBC’s Meet The Press.
“This race will really start to tighten and move in Gov. Romney’s direction."
Asked to acknowledge the political problems caused by Romney’s dismissal of 47 percent of the electorate in a now famous gaffe, Christie changed his defense. A few weeks ago, he blamed reporters. This time, he said the American people don’t care.
“They know political candidates at times when they're being taped are going to say things inartfully,” Christie said on Face The Nation, comparing it to the time in 2008 when Obama mistakenly said there are 57 states in the country.
Christie dodged questions about whether Romeny would raise taxes as part of a bipartisan spending cut deal. Asked to explain why Romney hasn’t offered more specifics about his economic recovery plan, Christie argued that Obama has been even more vague. In one of several critiques on the media this morning, he said on Meet The Press: “I wish you guys were just as tough on the president.”
“The president's just trying to run out the clock," Christie added on Face The Nation. "He desperately wants to run out ot the clock with platitudes that sound nice."
Whatever the president’s strategy may be, it seems to be working. Obama has increased his lead over Romney nationally and in swing states since each party’s convention, polls show.
As is always the case, Christie was asked about his own political future. Is Christie still the “future of the Republican party” after delivering what two critics described as a “prime-time belly flop” in his keynote speech at the Republican convention?
“Mitt Romney is the future of this party," Christie said on Meet The Press. "He's going to be elected president."
And that's why Christie wouldn’t say whether he would run for president himself in 2016 if Romney loses.
“Mitt Romney’s gonna win," Christie declared on Face The Nation. "So it’s a question I don’t need to address. I hope in 2016 to be working hard for Mitt Romney's reelection as president of the United States.”
If Obama has a 10% lead in Pa. why is the Inquirer having financial problem? Democrats are the only people that buy the paper. With the overwhelming popularity of Obama the paper should be having record profits.— LTownBob- wow, and I thought you Libs were the "tolerant" people....whose lying?— mulford71
- its funny, even amusing how you defenders of the Great Hopr (but worse change) won't address O's failure in almost everything.I guess the New York Times BESTSELLER "The Amateur" suits O's presidency.— mulford71
- hey @dopeywhtguy and all the other stupid sheep on this thread, is it that you're all beholden to unions or are you all just this dumb?
And how funny to read the insults about Christie's weight from the party regulars on this message board whom would otherwise defend the honor of any whom they feel are being discriminated against for a host of liberal causes? Complete hypocrites but that's the way it is with the left...they pronounce themselves as populists who will defend folks of all persuasions, but only if the cause foots with the left agenda.
Otherwise, they are the most vicious of American anywhere.
Your guy will probably get re-elected and your America will be so much less in four years' time than you've ever known it to be.— advantasux - i have to say Christie's weight is a problem for the candidate. slurs aren't nice, but no one is going to elect someone who makes no effort to lose weight when that weight will so obviously shorten his life. just not smart.
- How about giving away some free phones as a promotional stunt.— Chief_Negotiator
- How about giving away some free phones as a promotional stunt.— Chief_Negotiator
- Christie outlaws drugs in New Jersey but it is clear he is doing something good. Just look at his behavior and political predictions.— misterpond
- best republican line about the ryan budget- it's a budget, but we haven't run the numbers yet. wha??? a budget with no numbers?
- Is that same as Pelosi saying we have to pass it so we can see what's in it? WWWWHHHHHAAAATTTTT????
- What do you expect him to say? It would be like Rendell predicting Obama to lose if he said anything else.— Rahjr
- Donut man speaks; Only Dunkin Donut patrons believe christie..— drstan51
- republicans say, "the sky is falling! the sky is falling!"
american people look and say, "no, it's not." - Republican party registration is 27% nationwide. It was 34% at the beginning of the Bush administration. Democratic party registration is stable at 36% Contrary to Rush and Beck people have been leaving the party in droves. Now the fruits of their labor to send a dog to a horse race has finally paid off. Hillary in 2016!— asa hart
- Have some crow with your next dozen jelly donuts christy....nevermind the added calories you idiot— zoo7gardens
Reach him at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattkatz00. Reach Matt at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
