The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Chris Christie in Perspective

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There's a bit of a debate going on over at the Washington Post about Gov. Chris Christie, with Ezra Klein arguing that he's only popular in small doses, and Jennifer Rubin responding that Republicans adore him. I'm surprised that Ezra would point to Christie's 51 percent approval rating to back up his thesis. Considering that Christie was only elected with 48 percent of the vote, that he's presided over brutal spending cuts in a liberal (or at least center-left) state, and is an officeholder at a time when Americans hate all elected officials, a 51 percent approval rating is pretty solid.

Ezra also notes his staff's strategy of trying to capture YouTube moments of him confronting people at town hall meetings. But this isn't merely about self-promotion, it serves an actual governing purpose. In the past, governors haven't been able to make the type of cuts he has because they've been afraid of taking on the unions. By creating these viral YouTube moments which show him sounding like a responsible guardian of the state's finances pitted against greedy and unreasonable public sector employees, he changed the dynamic and made these cuts possible. Ezra looks down on Christie's 51 percent rating, but the approval rating for New Jersey's teacher's union is down at 39 percent (or 32 percent among non-public employee households).

Ultimately, this conversation is irrelevant within the context of the 2012 presidential race. I'd be willing to bet any amount of money that he doesn't run this time around. Taking nothing away from him, the fact that he's even being talked about as a possible candidate says more about the weakness of the Republican field. The guy has said repeatedly that he isn't going to run, hasn't taken any of the steps that would suggest he may do so, and he hasn't even been governor for a year yet.

While we're on the subject of Christie though, I'd highly encourage you to watch this '60 Minutes' segment on the Day of Reckoning for state budgets, which featured him.

View all comments (10) | Leave a comment

handbags| 12.20.10 @ 10:14PM

thanks your share!

jocon307| 12.21.10 @ 12:45AM

Christie is great, and he could definitely run for president someday. But I certainly hope he will stay here in NJ, help build the republican party (including helping to bridge the gaps between country clubbers and tea partiers), run for re-election, win, and continue to try and straighten out this state that should have so much going for it, but which is being cannibalized by its own citizens.

OK, that's enough for one guy for the next few years.

Julie| 12.21.10 @ 8:59AM

Governor Christie is too fat. I could never vote for a man with a big belly like that. Romney is a possibility.

LarryK| 12.21.10 @ 10:20AM

Julie

and you're too ugly...

As Bugs Bunny said, "What a Marooon"

NJ Kay| 12.21.10 @ 10:58AM

I agree with Julie, Governor Christie's physical appearance is an embarrassment to Garden State residents. He certainly likes to through his weight around, no pun intended.

MikeGSP| 12.21.10 @ 10:00AM

Mr. Klein --
What spending cuts? The Governor did not cut spending in New Jersey. He diverted $2.5B in property tax relief to the general fund. State spending is up 6%. Stop believing the governor's press releases.
Mike, Americans for Prosperity-NJ

Paul| 12.21.10 @ 10:02AM

Julie -- I'm sorry you're prejudiced against fat men. If you knew anything about American history, you'd know that some of the most influential political leaders in our history -- particularly in Congress -- were not exactly oil paintings. But they knew their stuff far better than the blow-dried pretty boys that came along in the age of TV.

What impresses me about Christie is that what you see is very much what you get. He talks straight and walks straight. In one year as governor, he's taken on the big government interests in a way that nobody has in this part of the country in at least a half century.

I very much respect his stated unwillingness to run for national office in 2012. But he has a tremendous future if he keeps to his course.

MikeGSP| 12.21.10 @ 10:22AM

I'm afraid that's more myth than fact, Paul.

chamilia| 12.24.10 @ 2:47AM

as long as they give her, her ring back,get a ring for nose and barbells for nipples *writes that on to do list.

DVD drive Burner| 11.8.11 @ 4:19AM

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