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?
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This is just more of the Libs going after those they are afraid of while ignoring what is actually happening. Whatever happened to covering events that really mean something to everyone..The bankruptcy of Solyndra, the savior company of the Green jobs scam, costing the taxpayers 1/2 a billion, the failed "bailout" of Chrysler, Ford didn't take a dime and is doing great, that cost taxpayers $1 billion +. That is about as significant a gap in success and failure that one can imagine. And guess what, it's true as opposed to the BS the Libs try to throw out about those they are afraid of. This makes sense because most Libs are still living in that world where Obama is the savior and what was it:" I don't have to pay no more rent because I got Obama money" what's that: "I don't know it's just Obama money"." He's just like Robin Hood"!! You Libs need to grow up and realize this guy now has a record. As much as you trash those you hate come November 2012 people are going to have to ask themselves if they can take four more years of what they know is destroying this country, you simply can't hide it any more. The way things are going in the real world, you know the one that doesn't include Michael Moron, Sgt. Schultz and Groucho Olbermann, people are basically going to be saying "anything is better than this"...count on it dudes your guy had no experience and is showing it more and more every day. His record is fully flushed out, his positions and statements are on that record. So keep up the hate it's going to make it that much more pleasing when the the truth is revealed as it will be in the election process despite the Lib media doing all they can to divert attention from the real truth of what these folks have actually done (we are already seeing it in Mass, WI,NY all going for anybody but Libs). Then we can at last move on from this nightmare called Hope and Change that has us all hoping for change.— sarah89- Who actually pays for these trips? Who's running the state? When did Christie, after only 1 1/2 years on the job, become presidential material? For Republicans, that's pretty sad. Remember folks--who's taxes did he cut? That's right--the rich! When will Americans wake up!!!!!— 3rick
- If he's in Obama is going to walk away with this. Outside of Santorum and Bachman this would probably be the most divisive candidate the Tea Party (formerly known as the Republican Party) can muster.— Rod72
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- Turning around Jersey? What exactly has he done to turn around Jersey? He's never there, taxes are still through the roof, higher education is no longer affordable in NJ even for the residents and your highest crime cities have less fire and police officers then ever.— albertpa
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.
