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MEL EVANS / Associated Press

Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie, joining a gathering of mayors Friday in Toms River, N.J., has joked about his "endearing personality." He also says a chip on the shoulder is part of the charm of a typical New Jerseyan.

READER FEEDBACK

Christie's charisma is already a force

Biting and blunt, he revels in the public side of politics - unlike the man he'll replace.

By Jonathan Tamari

Inquirer Trenton Bureau

When Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie promised to bring change to Trenton, he usually was talking about cutting taxes and spending.

It will be two months before he can formally start that task, but it's already clear that Christie will bring a starkly different personal style to New Jersey's top political office.

In public appearances since Election Day, Christie has been blunt, funny, pugnacious, decisive, and, above all, forceful. He has been comfortable joking with teens and mingling with politicians, in control when dealing with the press, and defiant toward opponents and detractors.

Christie's words seem to barrel downhill toward his audience. His answers, often short on detail, are long on punch.

Take, for example, his comments a day after his victory, when he toured a Newark charter school and talked up his plans for education.

"If anybody thinks I'm kidding about this, they're going to watch. I am not going to continue to allow urban children to be failed and cheated by failing public schools," Christie told reporters.

When he said the "forces" against reform were powerful, he was asked to clarify: Did he mean the teachers union, which had blitzed the state with anti-Christie mailers after he declined even to seek its endorsement?

"That's exactly who I'm talking about," he said.

Christie's public persona is a sharp contrast to that of Gov. Corzine, who often has been fumbling in the spotlight and meandering in his speech, leaving the public and lawmakers to parse his words for possible meanings.

The two are scheduled to share a podium Thursday for the first time since Election Day, when each will speak at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City.

Christie "is very straightforward, very direct, very blunt, and very New Jersey," said State Sen. Bill Baroni (R., Mercer), a close ally. "That bluntness and directness is exactly what we need right now."

Baroni added that "there will be no need to read the tea leaves to figure out what Chris Christie thinks."

The professorial Corzine struggled to distill his message and deep policy knowledge into snappy sound bites. He shut down state government in a budget fight early in his term, but after that mostly opted for compromise over confrontation. And he revealed little of his personal side or self-deprecating sense of humor in public.

Gov. Rendell said his Garden State counterpart was inherently shy and didn't have the same "zest" for wading into crowds as other politicians. He recalled having to urge Corzine early in his career to banter with people on the Ocean City boardwalk.

"That not only hurts you as a campaigner, it hurts you a little in the governing process. You don't build up a 'credible' bank or a 'likable' bank with your constituents," Rendell said.

When you have 30 seconds in a news report to promote your ideas, "you really have to crystallize them," he said.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who has ties to both Corzine and Christie, said politics required both the "prose" of "churning out real substantive results" and the "poetry" of reaching the public.

"You have to find a way to boldly and authentically be yourself," Booker said.

Christie has not been shy about himself. His love of the New York Mets and New Jersey superstar Bruce Springsteen is renowned. He has joked about his family and their reactions to his win, telling high schoolers that his son now wants to be dropped off behind school so as not to be embarrassed by his father's security entourage.

Christie, a former securities lawyer who sometimes argued before appeals panels, had to be prepared, organized, and articulate, said Bill Palatucci, a friend, political ally, and former law partner.

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Comments

Posted 06:12 AM, 11/15/2009

EchoesoftheEnlightenment

Yawn. What a fluff piece.

Posted 06:39 AM, 11/15/2009

camtheman

Sour grapes, echoes

Posted 07:51 AM, 11/15/2009

rmw38

What charisma? Four years from now, the state will still be in economic distress even Tubby couldn't resolve. His mentor, George W left the country and our state in an unprecedented mess.

Posted 08:49 AM, 11/15/2009

MikeP

Talk is cheap. As this windbag keeps the hot air flowing, the Chritie recession keeps cippling New Jersey. Besides talking, what has this guy done to reduce taxes on New Jersey residents? Nothing, Zip. Zilch. Enough of all the talk already. It's time for some action. This guy is another do nothing Republican. Obviously, he originally got elected because he wasn't Corzine. Things are looking good for Democrats to retake the govenor's office next election.

Posted 09:16 AM, 11/15/2009

phillyhoodlum22

Christie is a overweight blowhard who will ruin New Jersey like Bush/Cheney did this country. Incompetence and no brains at the top will keep Jersey behind other progressive states and in bankruptcy.

Posted 09:23 AM, 11/15/2009

camtheman

MikeP, how could it be Christie's recession? He hasn't even taken office yet. And blaming Bush for NJ's internal budget problems rmw? That's a tired democrat response without merit. Just goes to show how bitter the two of you are and lacking real arguments. It's about time NJ has a governor who will go after corruption instead of ignoring it.

Posted 09:38 AM, 11/15/2009

theodotius

@rmw38: It was a global economic downturn fueled in large part towards a real estate bubble fueled by the CRA and mismanagement by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two institutions Republicans have long sought reform for. Nothing's changed there. And remember, Wall Street votes and contributes much more for Democrats. Who's the party of big business?

Posted 09:43 AM, 11/15/2009

ppasq

Corzine's supporters - who went to great lengths portraying Christie as fat -- seem to have a tough time eating their own words.

Posted 09:47 AM, 11/15/2009

SilverCTS

Mike P is delusional.

Posted 10:14 AM, 11/15/2009

janann

"Foahget about it" -- Same Baloney, different day. How better to become a hero than to blame the Teacher's Union for Everything. Let me know the first time he blames the Police Union for the Crime rate or the Firefighter's Union for increased fires. I ask the same question as many ask. What is he going to do,,,,, What did he do?? We had another Christie - Christie Todd Whitman, she came in with a surplus, turned it into a deficit, and walla -- we are sitll paying in property taxes the cost of a "State Pension Scam" she enacted in her tenure. To call him "Christie Light" may be inaccurate,,, but let's see what he does. Yes Christine Todd Whitman reduced State Income Tax to an average family of about $450 --- Average Propety tax increase during that time --- At least $1K.

Posted 10:25 AM, 11/15/2009

Ruckweiler

Well, good luck to him as he takes the reins in New Jersey. Hope he maintains his intelligent pugnacity in office as the campaign is over. Reading the story made me hungry for Dunkin' Donuts.

Posted 10:33 AM, 11/15/2009

wendymae1

will we be having a puff piece on nj gov every week now that there's a republican in that office? more reason tierney deserves to see his paper fold.

Posted 11:00 AM, 11/15/2009

Fernando08

Atlantic city is a financial wreck, corrupt and getting its brains beaten in by competition in PA and NY. Camden should be paved over. Newark is Afghanistan on the Hudson, the Jersey shoreline has been swallowed by the Atlantic, again, and the one bright spot, NJ strategic proximity to NYC, just got crushed by the collapse of Wall Street. The state is headed for economic Armageddon and they just elected a Tony Soprano impersonator for Governator. Wait til reality sets in, and being a lower the taxes at all times and for all reasons turns out to be a simple minded left over from a simpler time that even Glenn Beck can't cry his way back to. It is the 21st century global economy that we live in, not the America as the only economy left standing after WWII that we have to manage.

Posted 11:52 AM, 11/15/2009

comin4ya23

I can't stand this guy. He's loud, stupid, and obnoxious. Who the heck voted for him?

Posted 02:44 PM, 11/15/2009

rgreen72

Do you guys really believe that Corzine would be better? Why do you keep blaming President Bush, the Dear lorder and savior OBAMA the great has been in office for 10 months. I was told he could solve all problems with his wisdom and intelligence. He could move mountains and bring hope and change to the world. Dogs and cats would live together in harmony. OBAMA loves us and all will be better with him. OBAMA bleses us all.