One week after officially putting an end to the 24-hour GOP/Fox News hump fest surrounding his flirtation with a presidential run, Gov Christie may have just given some of the Romney doubters in the GOP a reason to be happy about with his endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor.
Appearing at a news conference in New Hampshire, the garrulous and gargantuan governor of the Garden State said it was an “easy decision,” citing Romney’s experience in the private and public sectors.
“America cannot survive another four years of Barack Obama, and Mitt Romney’s the man we need to lead America and we need him now,” Christie said.
That may very well be, Governor. But I hardly think America, with the biggest economic divide between the rich and the poor since the great depression, can survive four years of a multi-millionaire who thinks “corporations are people”.
From an economic standpoint, the decision to endorse Romney makes perfect sense. Both Romney and Christie are Wall Street darlings and virulently anti-labor. Politically speaking, Mitt Romney just happens to be the only semi-sane candidate running amid a field of tea party lunatics, a member (depending on the poll of the moment) of the formerly rational school of Republicanism, and has the greatest chance of challenging President Obama in a general election match-up.
Much like Christie, Mitt Romney served as a Republican governor in a very blue and liberal state, so there’s obviously a personal connection there. Further, Christie feels he understands divided government decision-making the most. Despite the fact that Christie was appointed by former President Bush, a not-so-bright cowboy Texan and former Texas governor himself, Christie is ever the politician and knows how unpopular George Bush was (and still is) and how disastrous his presidency was. He may “like” Rick Perry and have private feasts with him, but as a resident of a mainstream urban east-coast state, he knows very insular Texas has provincial appeal. Most important, he knows that an early endorsement of Mitt Romney translates into himself being put on the Veep shortlist if Romney somehow survives the primaries. As a high-profile and powerful surrogate to the Romney campaign, Christie knows the quid pro quo possibilities are limitless.
Nothing personal, Governor Perry. It’s just business.
Michael is a comedian/VO artist/Columnist extraordinaire, who co-wrote an award-nominated comedy, wrote for NY Times Laugh Lines, guest-blogged for Joe Biden, and writes a column for MSNBC.com affiliated Cagle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook
