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Chris Christie Wins Re-Election: 'Hey, Hey, Hey, How 'Bout This, NJ?'
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 6, 2013
Modified Nov 6, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 6, 2013
Modified Nov 6, 2013
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NJ Governor Chris Christie won a second term, with 60.5% of the vote over Democratic challenger Barbara Buono's 38%. When he entered his victory party in Asbury Park's Convention Hall, he told the adoring crowd, "Hey, hey, hey, how ‘bout this, New Jersey?"
Of course, his victory comes along with rampant speculation regarding his plans beyond New Jersey—specifically, his plans for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. Christie said, "I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington should tune into their TV sets, and see how's done. I know tonight, a dispirited America, angry with their dysfunctional government in Washington will look to New Jersey and say: 'Is what I think happening really happening? Are people coming together?'" In other words, don't lump me in with the idiots there.
He also told the crowd, "I did not seek a second term to do small things. I sought a second term to finish the job. Now watch me do it." He added, "People asked me for hugs just to know that the leader of their state cared about them … those hugs gave more to me than I could ever give back to them." When some supporters screamed things like "Chris Christie for President" during his speech, he joked, "I guess there is open bar tonight, huh? Welcome to New Jersey." It's about about the 14:20 mark:
Politico looks at how Christie will now be the head of the Republican Governors' Association.
The position will give Christie cover to get outside of his home state in support of other candidates over the next year — ahead of an almost-certain presidential campaign that his supporters and aides have done little to tamp down expectations about on the way to his reelection rout. The association had a budget of nearly $40 million in the bank, with a fundraising goal of at least $100 million next year.
“He has more of the abilities to be a strong RGA chairman than many governors, because he is from the New York media market, so he’s much better known in the business community than the average governor,” said former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, whose stint as RGA chairman at the beginning of the tea party wave was widely praised. “In each case, that gives him a big leg up for one of the more important roles of the RGA chairman, which is raising money.”
Christie addressed the leaks about presidential candidate Mitt Romney's VP selection process, which have been published in the new book, Double Down. Romney's VP selection process was called "Project Goldfish" and Christie was nicknamed "Pufferfish." From the Washington Post:
Romney initially crossed Christie off his short list. The governor’s vetting file was incomplete, and Romney had been bothered by Christie’s propensity to show up late at campaign events and by his lack of physical fitness, the book says.
“Romney marveled at Christie’s girth, his difficulties in making his way down the narrow aisle of the campaign bus,” the authors write. “Watching a video of Christie without his suit jacket on, Romney cackled to his aides, ‘Guys! Look at that!’”
Still, Romney considered Christie again but "An 11-day crash vetting left unknowns, however. According to a memo published in the book, the unanswered questions included those about a defamation lawsuit from earlier in Christie’s career; a Securities and Exchange Commission settlement involving Christie’s brother, Todd; the names and documented status of Christie’s household employees; his clients from his time as a securities industry lobbyist; and his medical history."
Christie told CNN's Jake Tapper yesterday that Romney called him to apologize, "It's very disappointing. I think it's a complete violation of trust of me and the spirit within which I entered that process." The thinking is that Romney staffers leaked it because they were upset at how Christie backed out of Romney events after Hurricane Sandy and embarked on a bromance with President Obama.
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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