Two interesting points regarding Republican Gov of NJ, Chris Christie...
First, he didn't get an invitation to CPAC, the most influential gathering of conservatives and conservative activists. Christie was a featured speaker last year, which helped build his brand.
Other CPAC organizers said that Christie has a "limited future" within the Republican Party.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/polit...-cpac-20130226
Who did merit conservative "All-Star" selections then? Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich AND SARAH PALIN all earned speaking bids.
Christie, for what it's worth, appears to be surviving. His most recent polling numbers:
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes...ReleaseID=1851
That fact that Christie has a commanding lead in his reelection race shouldn't be too surprising (He leads 62-25 right now over State Sen. Barbara Buono, and enjoys a 47% approval rating from DEMOCRATS). The most interesting nugget is that Christie is currently holding Buono to only 50% of African American voters.
Despite a mostly conservative governing record, including highly contested spats with organized labor, Christie is running competitively with *minority populations*, let alone the state as a whole.
What do you make of these two facts? Do you think Christie has a national political future, and why? Why do you think he's been able to remain popular despite a less than cuddly personality and perhaps being a little out of step with the median voter in his state? Should other Conservatives take a page out of Christie's playbook?
First, he didn't get an invitation to CPAC, the most influential gathering of conservatives and conservative activists. Christie was a featured speaker last year, which helped build his brand.
Quote:
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Said organizer Al Cardenas: "CPAC is like the all-star game for professional athletes; you get invited when you have had an outstanding year. Hopefully he will have another all-star year in the future, at which time we will be happy to extend an invitation. This is a conservative conference, not a Republican Party event. |
http://www.nationaljournal.com/polit...-cpac-20130226
Who did merit conservative "All-Star" selections then? Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich AND SARAH PALIN all earned speaking bids.
Christie, for what it's worth, appears to be surviving. His most recent polling numbers:
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes...ReleaseID=1851
That fact that Christie has a commanding lead in his reelection race shouldn't be too surprising (He leads 62-25 right now over State Sen. Barbara Buono, and enjoys a 47% approval rating from DEMOCRATS). The most interesting nugget is that Christie is currently holding Buono to only 50% of African American voters.
Despite a mostly conservative governing record, including highly contested spats with organized labor, Christie is running competitively with *minority populations*, let alone the state as a whole.
What do you make of these two facts? Do you think Christie has a national political future, and why? Why do you think he's been able to remain popular despite a less than cuddly personality and perhaps being a little out of step with the median voter in his state? Should other Conservatives take a page out of Christie's playbook?