New York Post Urges Christie to Run

The New York Post on Monday urged New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to enter the presidential race and fill a void in the current slate of GOP candidates.

“Some of the party’s top leaders and most influential figures — clearly troubled by the failure of anyone in the current field to stir broad, enthusiastic support — are pressing Christie, whom they believe can successfully lead the party against an increasingly vulnerable President Obama,” the Post stated in an editorial.

“We agree.”

The Post disclosed that talk of a Christie candidacy has been fueled by Thursday’s disappointing debate performance by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the presumed front-runner. Republicans now believe they “need someone strong on the ballot,” the Post observed, “and there’s no denying that Chris Christie has long been the hottest ticket in town, a genuine GOP political superstar.”

Christie has a “freshness” about him that’s lacking in Mitt Romney, according to the Post. The newspaper touted Christie’s success as a prosecutor in fighting his state’s “endemic corruption,” and pointed to his achievements as governor in bringing “fiscal responsibility” to New Jersey, enacting public pension reform despite an “intransigent Democratic legislature.”

“He’s focused and determined, but also flexible, and those are qualities sadly lacking in Washington these days,” the Post declared.

Political analyst Larry Sabato told Newsmax on Sunday that Christie could win the GOP nomination and go on to defeat President Obama in 2012.

The Republican Party is “disappointed with Perry and Romney and has an appetite for a new candidate,” said Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

“There’s no question that Christie could potentially win the nomination.”
On Friday, Newsmax broke the story that Christie is indicating he might be inclined to run.

Several leading Republican donors and fundraisers have been urging the governor to reconsider his decision not to run and to enter the GOP primary, Newsmax reported.

These Christie supporters note that significant GOP support has remained on the sidelines of the primary fight. Many leading fundraisers have yet to commit to any current primary contender, including Perry and Romney.

Newsmax also learned that the effort to draft Christie culminated in a recent hush-hush powwow with Christie and several notable Republican billionaires.

Christie promised to make a final decision “within two weeks,” a source familiar with the meeting told Newsmax.

Editor's Note: See "Christie Reconsidering '12 Run, Will Decide Within Days"

The Post editorial concluded: “Whether Christie is ready to make the run is open to question, but it’s crystal clear that if he does jump in he will instantly transform the Republican primary process.

“America right now is hungry for genuine leadership, someone who can take on the problems that have clearly proved too much for Barack Obama to handle.

“Chris Christie may just be the answer.”

via newsmax.com

Interesting.