Pawlenty staffers, fundraisers in talks with Chris Christie to enter presidential race

The Daily Caller ^ | August 19, 2011 | Amanda Carey

[supahstar2005]

Since Tim Pawlenty ended his bid for the presidency last Sunday, his former staffers and key fundraisers have held off from endorsing another candidate or moving to another campaign. There’s a reason.

Team Pawlenty is waiting on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to make a decision about entering the field as a presidential candidate, The Daily Caller learned Friday.

Key staffers who formerly made up the Pawlenty campaign have been in discussions with Christie all week and the talks are still ongoing, sources told TheDC. They are reportedly very anxious to have Christie officially place his hat in the ring. At one point, there was discussion of Christie flying to Texas at the beginning of the week; he ultimately nixed that plan

[lonevoice]

I’d have to think that latest Rasmussen poll showing Perry ahead of Romney by double digits with likely voters must have them running scared. I don’t think they’ve ever understood the Tea Party-type conservatives, and they think we might be duped into going for Christie because he talks like a tough guy and took on the unions. They really do think we’re that stupid.

[Tennessean4Bush]

Christie has no support from the conservative core

Baloney. He has lots of conservative support and appeal. He will not get the nomination with some of his opinions, but you could say that about anyone. Anyone.

And there is a good possibility he would lose to Obama in a general election.

Baloney. As long as the GOP candidate does not blow bubbles with his drool he will win the Presidency.

Most substantial conservatives would be hard pressed to be motivated to get out to vote for him because his establishment viewpoints and compromising style would produce policies that worked against conservatism just about as much as Obama has.

LOL! Are we talking about the same guy?

Unions across the nation would turn out in droves to vote against him.

Yeah, and the unions will stay at home for the other GOP candidates? Give me a break! Regardless of who the GOP nominates, the unions will turn out in droves to vote against him. If the GOP nominated Olympia Snowe they would paint her as the devil incarnate and turn out in droves to vote against her.

[Dr. Sivana]

I don’t think they’ve ever understood the Tea Party-type conservatives, and they think we might be duped into going for Christie because he talks like a tough guy and took on the unions.

And because if he runs Ann Coulter will get her old bobby sox out of moth balls and throw them at him while screaming uncontrollably. "Pick me, Ringo! I mean Chris!"

[bkepley]

Even if he doesn’t get the nomination it would be good for the GOP if he gets in and Palin too. You wouldn’t hear too many cracks about the GOP not having any heavyweights (no pun intended) running. Romney, Palin, Perry, Christie....a pretty formidable line-up against the Democrats I’d say.

[Tennessean4Bush]

I strongly suspect "The Divine One" will be reelected.

Any GOP candidate will win 40+ states and win by 8% or more. As long as he or she doesn't blow bubbles with his/her drool, the GOP will win the Presidency.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Tells you how NON conservative Pawlenty was - that his campaign staff would work for Christie

[Georgia Girl 2]

“Team Pawlenty is waiting on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to make a decision about entering the field as a presidential candidate”

Memo to TPaw: We don’t want Christie anymore than we wanted you.

[lonevoice]

OMG...ROFLMAO!!

[iowamark]

I think that he would want Pawlenty staffers like he would want the plague.

[rockvillem]

I’m with you - shouldn’t we Republicans have a “the more the merrier” view at this point? If only the primary season could help define candidates like it did in the past. Look at the 1976 Democrat primary system. It had 23 participants and it took a LONG time for that to shake out - of course it yielded Jimmy Carter, oof - although he did win the general election.

Bring on Chris Christie, Sarah Palin and anyone else who wants to join this fandango. We are facing the most critical election of our lifetime - 4 more years of Obama is going to destroy our great country and probably make me close the doors of my small business. Let’s get everyone in the ring and see what they have, for crying out loud.

[RED SOUTH]

Chrisite can't win the nomination. He is a gun grabber and a global warmist. And he's proud of it.

[miss marmelstein]

Believe me, he’s not that great for Jersey. Just ‘cause he yelled at a few union thugs doesn’t make him great for Jersey - and I voted for him. Why doesn’t he yell at the Verizon union thugs who are destroying telecommunications in my part of the state.

Today he is pretending he stood up to the Port Authority over unfairly raising toll fares. Total bull, since the fix was in from Day 1 and he knows it.

And his phoney calling out of the idiot Bloomberg over the 9/11 ceremonies - after refusing to condemn the Ground Zero mosque! He thinks the voters are fools. Sadly, maybe they are.

At this point, the only thing I like about Christie is what everybody else dislikes about him: his weight. It is authentic and all-American.

[no dems]

Key staffers who formerly made up the Pawlenty campaign have been in discussions with Christie all week......They are reportedly very anxious to have Christie officially place his hat in the ring.
Methinks these campaign staffers just need a job and don't wanna have to go back into the real world and look for employment.

[nascarnation]

You can’t enter at the last minute and get on the ballot.

If Trump is gonna do an indy, and I don’t expect him to, it will have to roll out well ahead of the election.

[Jim Scott]

I have no interest in a Chris Christie presidential candidacy. The New Jersey governor is not a conservative and I view his possible candidacy as nothing but a vehicle to siphon off votes form Perry and/or Bachmann, who are conservative, if not quite ';Reagan conservatives'. Chris Christie convinces the politically unsophisticated that because he's fought the unions and talks tough (he's from New Jersey, after all) that makes him a 'conservative'. I don't think so. His weight is also an issue, even if it might be considered bad form to mention it. The media will, often. It makes him appear undisciplined , a gift to leftist political cartoonists and a ripe target for the inevitable 'fat jokes' from the left, especially liberal 'comedians' such as Bill Maher and Dave Letterman. Ouch! However, even if Chris Christie were built like a prizefighter, I still would not welcome his candidacy because he is a lot closer to RINO than TEA party.

[no dems]

Pawlenty staffers resisted an overture from Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who is also rumored to be considering a bid...
Now, that concerned me more than anything else in the entire article. We need Paul Ryan where he is doing what he's doing. He's still young. His day will come. Maybe he should sit out the next 8 years, if a Pubbie gets elected in 2012, and run for Governor of Wisconsin. And, then run for President.

[Paul Ross]

Chrisite can't win the nomination. He is a gun grabber and a global warmist. And he's proud of it.

BUMP! This is so self-evident.

YET...the Pawlenty Team wants him.

This should be a warning to every conservative, Reaganite and Tea Partier...keep an eye on these phonies who worked for the phony Pawlenty.

They are obviously deceitful infiltrators. From Gingrich, to Pawlenty, to Christy...THEY HAVE NO CONSERVATIVE ELEMENT IN THEM WHATSOEVER.

They should be widely identified...and whapped hard. And a scarlet "C" for commie-lover should be put on their foreheads.

We need to make these dangerous political incursions from some concealed agenda FAIL in their schemes.

[bereanway]

If Pawlenty’s people are chasing this guy that tells me all I need to know. Which isn’t all I do know since this is the same guy who said about 3 days ago that he has admiration and agress with 0zer0 on a number of issues. Funny, but I don’t agree with the current resident on anything. Sounds a lot like a McCain. Besides, he’s awful on the RKBA, AGW and Islam.

Thanks but no thanks.

[no dems]

I like Christie, but he needs to lose weight.
______________________________________________________________
Believe it or not, that would hurt his candidacy somewhat. The “cosmetic” effect of a candidate goes a long way with a lot of folks. Also, that much weight is NOT healthy; he could have serious health issues by age 60. But, don’t count on him losing weight, it’s not happening at his age.

[ngat]

“I’m with you - shouldn’t we Republicans have a “the more the merrier” view at this point? If only the primary season could help define candidates like it did in the past. Look at the 1976 Democrat primary system. It had 23 participants and it took a LONG time for that to shake out...Bring on Chris Christie, Sarah Palin and anyone else who wants to join this fandango.”

Agree totally, and not only do I want to see whoever else thinks they have a shot in there, I wouldn’t even care WHEN they jump in, even if it’s as late as at a deadlocked convention. I can’t figure out all these self-important amateur political strategists getting all upset because somebody isn’t declaring themselves a candidate when the armchair quarterback thinks they should.