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Born To Run: Should Bruce Springsteen Challenge Christie To Be The Boss Of NJ?
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 22, 2011
Modified Jul 22, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jul 22, 2011
Modified Jul 22, 2011
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Ever since beloved saxophonist Clarence Clemons died last month, we've had a hard time picturing Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on stage blasting through another sweaty, epic version of "Jungleland." So could this be the time for The Boss to finally consider running for office in New Jersey? Based on a new poll by Public Policy Polling, it sure is: Springsteen would start off any race tied at 42 percent with current Governor Chris Christie, but with room to grow among Democratic voters, and with better favorability numbers. And considering that Christie is a huge Springsteen fan (who has seen him more than 120 times live), he might be tempted to follow Springsteen on the campaign trail.
Springsteen has never been cagey about his political views—he's a liberal who has used his pulpit as a world-famous rock star to campaign for John Kerry's in the 2004 presidential election and performed at anti-nuclear concerts. He's also written songs about everything from the tragic police shooting of Amadou Diallo in "American Skin (41 Shots)" to the Iraq war in "Devils and Dust." Although he's always been dubious when asked if he had any political aspirations, he's become more and more outspoken against Christie in the past year, going so far as to write a letter to the Asbury Park Press attacking Christie's severe state budget cuts.
And we can already get an idea of what kind of politician Springsteen would be. For example: how might The Boss handle this current heat wave we're having? We know he would empathically feel the suffering of his constituents: "At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet and a freight train running through the middle of my head." He'd probably pass some sort of summer clothes initiative. And then maybe he'd turn on the radio and pull us ever so close:
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bruce springsteen
Chris Christie
governor
new jersey
nj
the boss
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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