For better or worse, Christie likes to be his own man. Maybe he can be governor and do that, but maybe he doesn't want to be president and have to pull his punches. He may be nice nice with President Obama, but that could all change tomorrow. He's mercurial.
Christie is going to be 52 on election day in 2014. He has no substantial wealth, nor steady stream of income. He has one heck of a legal CV, and political connections across party and ideological camps. And maybe 15 to 20 years to work his arse off and cash in, still has to pay for kids’ Uni and get himself set up as a partner in a law firm.
Take a look at NY Gov. Pataki’s career trajectory since he left office, that is a good guideline for Christie’s career strategy going forward from 2017.
Keep in mind that the chances of some type of mass immigration amnesty between now and 2016 and 2020 might make Christie a viable candidate...