This is the 11th article in a weekly series looking at possible 2012 presidential contenders. Click here to learn more about the series.
Since assuming office earlier this year, Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) has quickly become the darling of the Republican Party. In many ways, his quick political ascent is analogous to President Obama’s, who also became a party superstar almost immediately upon entering the political scene.
Gov. Christie is a tough-talking New Jersey politician whose no-nonsense style seems well-matched to difficult economic times.
His reign – which has focused on tightening the state budget and reforming education – earned him a 51 percent approval rating in a mid-October poll (37 percent disapproved).
Gov. Christie has many of the seven traits that all eight winning presidential candidates have had since the beginning of the 24/7 media age in 1980. He appears comfortable in his skin, uses everyday language that has the potential to resonate widely, and does a great job of articulating his message, as he does in the below clip:
“I think Republicans across the country need to get back to our brand…it’s why I became a Republican. Less government, lower taxes, less spending and common sense regulation that grows private sector jobs. So I think if my win tells anything, it means if we get back to basics as Republicans, then we speak to some of the concerns people have in New Jersey and around the country.”
I’ll review his communications flaws and grade his performance after the clip.
As the below clip shows, Gov. Christie isn’t afraid of confrontation, in this case with a teacher who is having a tough time making ends meet. But although many of his constituents appreciate his brash style, it isn’t likely to play well with women voters nationally, who have favored the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992.
If Gov. Christie decides to run, he should keep in mind that the more optimistic candidate has won every presidential election since 1980. I’m not convinced his brash style, which works well in New Jersey, will translate well to the national stage. A little prickliness can work well; too much, and he risks looking like an angry candidate a la Bob Dole in 1996 and John McCain in 2008.
Overall, his prospects look good. If he’s careful not to engage in too many of the confrontations he seems to relish, he’d have a real shot at unseating President Obama.
GRADE: B+
To see the other candidates I’ve reviewed so far, click on their names: John Thune, Mitt Romney, Haley Barbour, Newt Gingrich, Jeb Bush, Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels, Bobby Jindal, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Marco Rubio, Gary Johnson, Jim DeMint, Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama
