The Republican presidents of my lifetime are Eisenhower (Kansas), Nixon (California), Ford (an anomaly), Regan (California), Bush (Texas), Bush (Texas).
There ain’t a northeasterner among them. The Republican base is in the South and West. The bastids ignore us at their peril.
Per your comment regarding the Bush 41 and 43 pedigrees: George H. W. Bush (41) was born in Massachusetts and was the son of Prescott Bush; who was a U.S Senator from Connecticut and originally from Ohio. George H. Bush (43) was born in New Haven, CT. All 3 attended Yale University. While it is true that both Bush 41 and 43 now have residences in Texas (41 still maintains a “summer home” in Kennybunkport, Maine); their New England/Northeastern ties/roots are quite strong ...Prescott was an influential NY banker prior to winning his U.S. Senate seat.
That said I totally agree that Christie is no friend to Conservatism ...probably he is the best one can expect from NJ; but, I guarantee he won't sell here in VA or anywhere else in the South.
V/r,
Geoff