What was possibly the worst-kept secret in New Jersey politics was finally revealed last week: Gov. Christie will officially be running for president of the United States in 2016.
Christie threw his hat into the ring last week, and now he’ll have to contend with the apparent 1 million other people running for the Republican nomination — notable among them Rand Paul, Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Scott Walker.
Christie’s prospects of winning the Republican nomination are considerably lower than they were back in 2012, when he decided to not run for the ticket that was heads-up with Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. However, despite this — and whether you think he’d make a good president — Christie will probably make a strong candidate.
In 2009, Christie won the gubernatorial election over incumbent Jon Corzine. He collected 48.5 percent of the vote that year, the largest margin for a first-term Republican in New Jersey since 1969.
Four years later, he overwhelmingly won re-election over Barbara Buono and other challengers with 60 percent of the vote.
Today, after a few scandals, his approval rating has dipped significantly, and other strong Republican rivals have entered the race as well.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t turn things around, and make Republican voters forget — or overlook — his deficiencies.
Christie has always thrived during campaigns, and he has always done well with all voters, regardless of political party affiliation. That has long been his attraction as a potential Republican candidate for presidency. In his nomination speech, he already blasted both parties, saying Republicans and Democrats alike “have failed our country.”
Could that be enough by itself to make Republican voters throw their support behind him, instead of Bush and the others?
Could he overcome recent negative press received with the pension fight and the bridge scandal by focusing on his accomplishments and plans for our country?
Maybe. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened.
The next few months of electioneering should prove interesting before the first primaries are held in February.
Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Woodrow Wilson winning re-election as president. He was the last candidate from New Jersey to win. Could Christie be the next?
