Why Chris Christie won’t win the presidency in 2016

The Daily Caller ^ | January 12, 2013 | Christopher Bedford

[libstripper]

In the early, and later, days of the 2012 Republican primary, a steady stream of pundits kept a slow but steady chant of “Christie, Christie, Christie” humming along in the background, daring the popular Republican governor of a Democratic state to step up to the plate and run for national office. And though he played coy with his supporters, sending proxy messages while insisting that he was devoted to his work at home, the don of Jersey never took the final step, settling instead for a national role as a prominent Romney surrogate.

That was then, and to be honest, we liked the bombastic belligerent. He took on powerful and entrenched interests in his state, met fire with brimstone and appeared unafraid of any fight with any man. But since that day, we’ve seen a couple more press conferences, a few more temper tantrums and a lot more of Mr. Christie. Through it all, one thing has become clear: Mr. Christie will not be the Republican nominee for president in 2016.

[Behind the Blue Wall]

Because he’s too fat!!! Everytime he talks about any sort of “discipline” or “restraint”, the chuckles in the room would be audible.

[bmwcyle]

The GOP can’t win with anyone. It has killed itself. Chris is one main reason.

[LibertarianLiz]

Thank you. That photo, IMHO, did him in when it comes to a Presidential bid.

[only1percent]

I find this article remarkably unpersuasive. The Republican nomination has gone to the "heir apparent" 100% of the time since 1968 -- that's eleven straight times. The only uncertainty about 2016 is who will appear to be the heir. Non-heirs-apparent persist in their campaigns in order to become the heir apparent next time around (by way of VP nomination, runner-up status, or because the campaign is really a big business development project for their non-presidential political or book/lecture/think tank operations.

I see Christie as having a good chance of becoming the heir apparent in 2015. (Not 2016 -- it will be settled in 2015.) Unlike Romney in 2011, he won't have Sarah Palin looming over him. There is no one plausible to compete with him for West Coast and northeast Republican money, elite opinion or media attention. He does have Jeb Bush to wonder about but Jeb will be many years out of office and the Bush family hasn't gotten politically more popular.

Indeed, it could be over even more easily for Christie than it was for Romney in 2011, assuming Jeb doesn't run. After pouring millions of hours and hundreds of millions of dollars into the scrum of second-tier conservative candidates in 2011 and 2012, who got no where and realistically never were going to, I don't see activists or donors having any cares to repeat that in 2015. A first tier candidate would have to offer himself, early and enthusiastically, and be embraced as such -- and the list for that role is very short -- Jindal, Rubio, two or three others. If none of those run, and Christie does, except Christie have the nomination unofficially wrapped up by Labor Day 2015 and official by April of 2016.

[Georgia Girl 2]

With Crispy’s lifestyle he probably won’t live til 2016.

[stonehouse01]

Another RINO? No way - New Jersey lib lites won’t play out across the country. It might be time for a new party. I know this is difficult. I will have to research how the WHigs died out - I don’t know at all right now.

[mirkwood]

[paul544]

Everytime we say someone can’t be elected, they are. Knowing how divisive Christie is, the media will beat that drum for the next 3 years.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Intersting concept. No way to do it, but a very intereting thought experiment...

[Servant of the Cross]

Name a blimp and a wimp?

[Servant of the Cross]

This is an un-solvable problem.

Intellectually, I just refuse to accept this. IF an organization can generate enough money and influence and make this its very mission, well before the primary even begins ... say like the Heritage Foundation headed by Jim DeMint ... perhaps it is solvable.

Imagine a re-do of the 2012 primary, if before it ever began, by invitation only, Gingrich, Bachmann, Cain, Santorum and Perry agreed to participate in several Heritage Foundation-sponsored debates, winner take all. The invitation is conditioned upon agreeing not to run for POTUS if you don't win and to support the winner of the pre-primary contest. The winner would have immense momentum and support to carry into the primary.

Yea, it would require the invitees to honor their word, but if they didn't it would be a death knell for them anyways.

[C. Edmund Wright]

That’s a decent idea, but there is no way to enforce it. Besides, there is always a niche Iowa candidate. In 08 it was Huck, in 12 it was Santorum. That candidate always thinks they can go to Iowa, stay there forever, and get that 20% that only cares about abortion, and then niche their way to the nomination.

there will always be one of those, and that candidate would never agree to your idea, though I like your idea.

[ansel12]

[varon]

Thanks again, my friend. If only more things in life were as dependable as you :-)

[jjotto]

The American conservative movement would have died out in the ‘30s and ‘40s but for its resurrection from near death by William F. Buckley and National Review magazine.

Though not furnishing conservative votes, Catholic and Jewish intellectuals made conservatism viable again for half a century.

A 21st century version of Buckley and National Review is needed.

[Behind Liberal Lines]