Has Chris Christie Wrecked His Chances for 2016?

Facing an upset base and a tough reelection, can Christie get to the White House?

If New Jersey Governor Chris Christie runs in 2016, he has a tightrope to walk, as Justin Sink of the Hill suggests. You see, Christie is still under attack for his "embrace" of Obama from a skeptical Republican base, a base he needs to maintain if he runs for president.

The Governor also needs to maintain the strong centrist following he's gained in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. His cooperation with Obama after Sandy has paid off in ratings among New Jerseyites, which have jumped 19 points, the Hill reports.

But many on the right interpret such bipartisan moves as the NJ governor pursuing his political interests at the expense of the rest of the GOP. Such a perception could come back to bite him in the primaries.

But none of that may matter if Christie doesn't win reelection as governor in 2013. New Jersey is a traditionally blue state, and Christie will likely face a daunting Democratic challenge from popular Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

But the GOP could come around to Christie's perspective after the 2012 election, especially if a centrist candidate could help capture the White House in 2016.

Via the Hill

Do you think Christie would make a good presidential candidate? Vote in our poll here!

[PoliticalSpice]

In politics four years is a century. Too early to tell how they will feel. I knew a Repub who Christe to run against O, then wanted Romney to pick him as vp, then called him a benedict arnold for crediting obama with help after sandy, but lets see what happens, Repubs who hated clinton spoke much kinder of him when obama was elected, and i'm certian if the tea party could stomach someone as moderate as romney, the man who created the obamacare blueprint, they will adjust to christe if it looks like he is there best shot. I hope i'm wrong, i prefer they pick bauchman/santorium or palin/perry any combination like those is fine with me...

[martydotcom]

Based upon past history of the GOP, he's toast with the base. Hense he'll get creamed in the primaries. I think it was Palin who said, we aren't the party of no, we're the party of HELL no we won't compromise. I think a good comparison is how the Tea Party walked all over a popular Gov. Charile Christ with Marco Rubio in the senitorial primary because Christ, an incumbent Rep., was photographed in a friendly pose with Obama.
The current GOP base is screaming, we lost because we weren't conservative enough ... enough said?? Christie a good candidate, but not as a Republican.

[PoliticalSpice]

@martydotcom
Personally, I'm counting on the tea party. Btw yo're the second person in a wk hinting christe might switch parties...

[Jean]

IMO...yes he has ruined his chances. I was not fond of him in the first place and when he embraced President Obama for doing what he was elected to do during the Presidential race...that kind of finished it for me.

i would like to see a Santorum / Palin, Santorum / West, Santorum / Rubio, Santorum / Jindal,......SANTORUM!

[PNWest]

I tend to agree with you. Nothing would please me more than to see Santorum over all of the GOP candidates.

[Waynestew]

@PNWest LOL

[PNWest]

@Waynestew How long will it stay up?

[Waynestew]

@PNWest I don't think anyone would pick up on this sarcasm or innuendo.

[PoliticalSpice]

@PNWest
What's wrong with Bauchman? First for senate in 2 yrs, then for president.What about Palin? She's been stuck in Alaska a long time, it's melting from global warming, she might be up for another run. She has found memories.

[FollowTheMoney]

He would make a good candidate if the election was held tomorrow. 2016, who knows.

[Hammertime]

To far away to consider yet.

[harold]

Does Christie want to run for president?

[IraqWarVeteran]

It's a deep speculation from the Democratic Party.

[Waynestew]

Yes he'd make a good candidate. People will soon forget his support of Obama as 2016 approaches. Furthermore conservatives can seamlessly be easily convinced that someone who was not conservative is. All Romney had to do was say I am a "severe conservative" Though his record did not reflect this.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Chris Christie has betrayed the Republican party in the most intimate way. It is beyond disgusting and grotesque how a man can walk away from his values and embrace the dark demons of anti-American sentiment. For sure, it's hard to understand the motives one would have for sacrificing his children and grandchildren merely for a few minutes of fame. Chris Christie will live on infamously as a charlatan, someone who took the trust that New Jersey residents invested in him and faithlessly abandoned it.

A piece of hope that each child in this country devoted to the likes of Christie died as it was slaughtered by cynicism and the expectation that reneging on the promises to true patriots would be rewarded with the affections of independent voters. Chris Christie will never be president. Those few of us that still guard the American dream will not allow it. We know too well that Christie is not of us, but of a sinister soul that would surrender tomorrow's promise for unworthy gains today.

Independents don't love snakes, they love faithful men that cherish their vows to protect freedom and the Constitution. Such a man is not named Chris Christie. He will be reminded of his sins if he should ever throw his hat in the ring for president.

Christie, you are a liberal and should join your other outcasts from Heaven in the Democratic party. You have a shared fate with those who have abandoned America. You are one of them. Go be with those who are the same inside as you are!

[MIDutch]

"unworthy gains today"? You mean like the lives of the citizens of New Jersey? Those sorts of "unworthy gains"? That you think your Republican ideology is more important than the lives of US citizens is disgusting. Further, it's a good thing that you don't get to decide who gets to heaven.

[Dan_Tien]

"For sure, it's hard to understand the motives one would have..." The motive was gratitude, and it was not expressed at the sake of anyone's children.

[RobertJHarsh]

Yes. Besides announcing he is basically a RINO, he gets chummy with Comrade Soetoro on TV. Why? It's not like Obama wasn't going to send his state disaster funds.

[Jack-Black]

Any canidate or future canidate that goes on SNL will never get my vote.

[1hardcorerepub]

Here here.

[FFX_VA]

He actually had a real chance?

[Hireman]

I think anyone who gets down to brass tasks and doesn't shun another party's reps is worth looking at.

[Vance1]

Has Chris Christie Wrecked His Chances for 2016?
I certainly hope so!!! He is the most anti gun big government liberal republican, That ever could take office, I surely wouldnt vote for him

[DARSB]

I see the usual suspects are fixated on the "Obama Cooties Effect", which is kind of funny since that makes them spend more waking hours thinking about the President than those of us who voted for him do.

[martydotcom]

if nothing else they're consistent. Wasn't Neo's obsessive fears of all things Obama supposed to result in self deportation to Canada ?

[Vet]

I would not vote for him if he was running for Dog Catcher, much less an office that required common sense.. Obama would not approve Christie's run for a significant office, so there is little worry in him doing so..

[mimi57]

YES!

[mimi57]

Yes he wrecked his chances...and no he wouldn't make a good candidate unless a "traitor" is considered a good
candidate, but hey...we have plenty of those...

[Poseur]

He keeps saying he isn't interested. That may well change in 4 years, but for now he has vastly improved his chances of keeping his current job. He was well on his way to being defeated in the very blue state of NJ. His popularity is increasing now.

[Big-R]

Christie never had a chance for 2016 to start with. Anything he does only pertains to his state.

[suzy]

He certainly has with me . But I'm glad the real Christie came out . I would've other wise gave him my vote.

[jessejaymes]

You'll give him your vote anyhow if he's the GOP nominee. Republicans don't vote for Dems and Dems don't vote GOP. Moderates control every Presidential election and you have no real say in it.

[KyleMFb]

Yes I do...he don't speak bullshit witch today republicans are all to fluent in but I won't vote for him