Christie brings his non-campaign to Cali
C-SPAN is apparently carrying it live, FOX News is sending a camera, every national political reporter will be reading the tea leaves and Rick Perry will be (presumably) shaking in his cowboy boots.
Christie brings his non-campaign to Cali
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
I’m on the Christie non-presidential campaign trail today, flying to California (US Airways in-flight WiFi – holla!), where Christie is delivering what is being described as the biggest speech of his career at the Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library.
C-SPAN is apparently carrying it live, FOX News is sending a camera, every national political reporter will be reading the tea leaves and Rick Perry will be (presumably) shaking in his cowboy boots.
In front of 970 people, plus press, Christie will speak about “American exceptionalism,” drawing a connection between Christie’s fiscal record in New Jersey and how that kind of prudent leadership is needed on a national level so the U.S. can restore its standing in the world. That's right -- Christie will touch on the biggest hole in his resume, foreign policy.
The speech comes after a frenetic, frenzied few days in which Christie has moved – in the minds and hearts of rich Republican donors and conservative media – from “we-wish-he-would-run-for-president” to “he’s-our-only-hope.”
Sources tell me (and lots of other reporters) that the pressure amped up after the Republican debate last week, when Perry is said to have bombed his performance. Calls are coming from all over the country – reporters, donors, politicos – imploring Christie to announce his candidacy ASAP. They say he will clear the Republican field, pushing aside Perry and Mitt Romney, and have a good chance of beating Obama.
What is still unclear in my mind -- and what sources differ on -- is whether Christie is politely entertaining these calls because:
A) It builds his national profile for a 2016 run while increasing his popularity at home (his favorability ratings in Jersey are up to 54 percent in a new poll released today) and helps him raise money for state Republicans (he is hosting fundraisers for the state party in Missouri and Louisiana this week).
Or…
B) He is actively considering a run, thereby reversing himself from his previous statements that he and his family aren’t ready (and backtracking from his threat to commit suicide to prove he wasn’t running).
Here’s a crib sheet to catch you up on the latest Christie For President campaign news in case you don’t pay close attention to presidential elections before they begin...
The New York Times offers this list of the wealthy Americans who are lined up to support him...A Star-Ledger editorial writer who Christie told to “get a life” earlier this month is now calling for him to take the plunge and run....NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, not exactly buddy-buddy with the gov, says Christie should run...Former Gov. Kean, the elder statesman of New Jersey Republican politics, says Christie is “giving it a lot of thought.”....Nancy Reagan herself invited the governor to make this speech tonight, and former First Lady Barbara Bush called New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie, telling her that raising four kids in the White House is totally cool....
And the Daily Show last night played a clip of Christie singing “Born To Run,” (a clip of which I posted yesterday) before host Jon Stewart showed his guest, actual GOP candidate Ron Paul, a picture of Paul’s head on Christie’s body.
So will he or won’t he? Your guess is as good as mine.
Poll: Should Christie run for President?
Does this guy ever stay in NJ and actually do work? So far all he does is campaign.
— taxmanndumbeth
Comment removed.- President Christie sounds good to me.— frank12345
- Yes, because there is a shortage of pro-rich angry politicians in Washington. — NJ_Engineer
- if you're wealthy and white it sounds great. if your poor or working class - not so much. in christie's world the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. trickle down lol.— slanted and enchanted
- Comment removed.
- Have your taxes gone down since Christie has been in power? I am working guy and I am paying more than I ever have while I watch schools struggle and my local services shrink to nothing. Christie is just another politician that only cares about getting elected to his next job instead of doing his current job. Republican, Democrat, they are all the same. — NJ_Engineer
- @taxmanndumbeth... I didn't hear you complaining about Obama running around, promoting himself and his failed presidency. And he is responsible for the entire country, not one state. And you know what? I'm not complaining either. The less Obama spends on trying to govern, the less damage he will do to the country. As far as Christie is concerned, he has done more good for the state of NJ in his brief stay as a governor than his predecessor in his entire term.— hollandpa
- LOL. You're actually contradicting yourself. Obama travels around the U.S. because he IS the President and responsible for the entire nation not just Washington D.C. Christie is responsible for just his state yet he spends more time traveling around the country.
The real damage is being done by the Republicans and Tea Partiers in Congress. They've put a stranglehold on the government so they can push their Koch brothers corporatist agenda.— taxmanndumbeth - Amen! — NJ_Engineer
- For the love of God I hope this guy runs. He's absolutely fantastic... charismatic, good communicator, funny, intelligent, and relatable... he's the anti-Mitt. I will vote for Mitt Romney over Obama, but Obomneycare is enough for me to say Mitt doesn't deserve the GOP nomination.— Bud Fox
- god forbid people actually have health care. — wobblie
- slanted and enchanted, Stop with old stereotypes, was everybody rich when Dems. were in office. How is that change working out for you, that real smart guy Obama how was he swindled by that solar company.— frank12345
- If he is in...he wins. The Fat Man is Obama's worst nightmare.— kelprod2
- This guy is the biggest thing to hit presidential politics since TAFT! Is New Jersey foolish enough to pay him a salary to run for President or would they do it just to get rid of him?— atp2007
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.
