Wishful thinking. 2008 shows what happens when you run a “moderate”.
Christie supports Global Warming propoganda, Sharia Law in US Courts, and is even more lackluster on social issues than John McCain was.
VA would be gone. He get blown out in the same counties McCain did (Loudon, Chesapeake, etc) and would not do as well as need be in SW VA. VA doesn’t take too kind to running moderates.
NC would be uphill as well for the same reason.
FL would be an outright disaster. Rubio would not save him anymore than Palin could not save McCain. The I-4 corridor would be lost and with it, the state.
MO would be another nail-biter.
MT would be in serious jeopardy.
In a close race where a group of people (Conservatives, Tea Party) would be very unhappy with a candidate like Christie, don’t underestimate his weakness or lack of support. IN would be close enough for Lake County to try their “magic”.
This isn’t even to mention that Christie is an even weaker candidate in the South/Midwest than even Romney.
Christie is an electoral disaster waiting to happen.
Electoral history doesn't back your assertions. Your analysis treats 2008 as the rule, rather than what it was -- the exception -- a Perfect Storm against the GOP, not to be repeated in 50 years or longer.