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Nation
Chris Christie’s National Pitch Big state win could set N.J. governor up for success in 2016 Harrison, N.J. A second term all but assured, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is casting himself as an inclusive Republican who transcends political lines and a pragmatic leader whose resultsoriented approach offers valuable lessons for dysfunctional party leaders in Washington. “We need to send a message to all of America that the only way our state and our country gets better is if people work together across the
aisle,” Christie said during a rally Friday at an Elks Lodge. It’s a closing message that doubles as the opening argument for a prospective presidential run. But a resounding victory Tuesday in a Democratic-leaning state over little-known and underfunded state Sen. Barbara Buono, as polls suggest, doesn’t automatically translate into success at the national level. Many national would-be Christie critics shied away from New Jersey, giving the incumbent little resistance as he sells himself as an electable GOP leader with particular appeal among women and minorities, groups that Republicans elsewhere often struggle to
Meanwhile … Mitt Romney said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie “stands out as one of the very strongest lights” among the Republicans’ most electable potential presidential candidates in 2016. The 2012 GOP presidential nominee also said that his ex-running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would be on his list of “very capable people.” (AP)
attract. Christie’s advisers suggest that would be his pitch during any future national campaign.
Even with polls predicting a big victory, the Christie camp is trying to lower expectations in a state that President Barack Obama won by more than 17 points. Should Christie break the 50 percent mark, he would become the first GOP governor to do so in New Jersey since 1985. “I like the fact that he makes tough decisions,” said Gina Davies, a lifelong Democrat. She’s never supported a Republican before but is willing to forgive Christie’s positions on gay marriage and abortion. But she won’t be so forgiving if he goes after the White House. “I wouldn’t vote for him for president,” Davies said. “I love Hillary Clinton.” STEVE PEOPLES (AP)
59%
The amount of Americans who still suspect there was a conspiracy behind President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination, according to an Associated PressGfK poll. That’s down from a 2003 Gallup poll that found that 75 percent of Americans felt there was a conspiracy. Twenty-four percent polled this year think accused shooter Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone — the highest since the mid-1960s. (AP)
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