“He supports abortion in the case of rape, + incest.”
By that definition 90% of the US is pro-abortion; he doesn’t advocate for abortion. When you look at the forces aligned against him, he’s doing something right. Maybe he is more of a TEA Party candidate than a social conservative (the TEA Party avoids social issues), but for NJ and other high tax, big government states he has answers. I’d rather see him in office than watch the GOP constantly just write off those types of states.
“By that definition 90% of the US is pro-abortion”
22 percent believe that it should be illegal in all cases, according to Gallup. That’s about half the GOP. Christie’s on the wrong side of the GOP line here.
“When you look at the forces aligned against him”
Fiscally, he’s solid. Socially, he’s soft on abortion and soft on the second amendment. These are issues with him running a national campaign. We can do better than Christie.
“Maybe he is more of a TEA Party candidate than a social conservative (the TEA Party avoids social issues).”
Not if he supports gun control. 80 percent of tea party folks are in opposition to him. 60 percent of tea party folks also believe that abortion should be illegal.
He’s a GOP mainstream candidate. He’s also weak on immigration.
Many “pro-life” people for years have been voting for abortion candidates for the state legislature, U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and governor, even as the GOP presidential nominees bore nominal “pro-life” tags. They still are voting for abortion candidates; many are too uninformed to know the difference.