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The headlines telling news consumers that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has decided not to run for president in 2012 are, at a certain level, misleading. He already announced that decision months ago. Christie has repeatedly said, to everyone who’s asked, that he won’t run. Last week, the governor referred reporters to a Politico video of him saying “no,” over and over again, which the media interpreted as a sign of possible interest in the race.
Regrettably, whispers, rumors, and breathless-but-unsourced reports refused to go away. And so, in about a half-hour, Christie will once again say what he’s been saying all along.
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey has decided not to seek the presidency, according to two associates.
Mr. Christie is scheduled to announce his decision at a news conference in the state capital at 1 p.m. But one adviser to the governor and another person who spoke to him directly said Tuesday morning that the governor would not pursue the Republican nomination.
The governor and his wife have reportedly called backers this morning to inform them of the governor’s final decision (as if it wasn’t quite final enough when Christie said, “Short of suicide, I don’t really know what I’d have to do to convince you people that I’m not running”).
The list of possible GOP presidential candidates who were considered contenders, but who ended up ruling out campaigns, is pretty long: Daniels, Huckabee, Barbour, Thune, Trump, Perry, Pence, Jindal, Corker, Jeb Bush, and now Christie — and a certain former half-term governor of Alaska hasn’t yet made any announcements. For all the stated confidence from Republicans about President Obama’s vulnerabilities, the fact that so many prominent GOP figures have decided to skip the 2012 race is pretty interesting.
As for Christie, I’ve never fully understood what all the fuss was about. Even if we put aside the governor’s repeated denials about the race, his relative moderation would have made it all but impossible for the Republican base to even consider him for the nomination.
In terms of the impact of his announcement, Christie’s base of support appeared to be political reporters — he wasn’t especially well loved or even known by GOP voters nationwide, so it’s a little silly to ask where his backers will go now that he’s officially out of the race (again). That said, Christie would have been less right-wing than nearly all of the current field, so his absence will once again leave us with a Romney vs. Perry race, with Romney unconcerned about protecting his more moderate flank.
To me, the real story here is the fact that there was a Christie boomlet in the first place. That so many in the Republican Party are so desperate for another “savior” candidate to jump in the race at the 11th hour, is a reminder that GOP insiders still aren’t satisfied with this field. Yes, given the larger economic conditions, one of these candidates may end up winning next year, but it’s still a pretty awful group of candidates that leaves many Republicans underwhelmed, uninspired, and apparently a little panicky.
I’m not unsympathetic. If I were a major GOP insider asked to choose between the unlikable flip-flopper, the dimwitted governor, the wild-eyed conspiracy theorist, the disgraced former Speaker, the guy who ran a pizza company, the radical libertarian, and the former Obama administration official, I too might be asking myself, “Who else can we reach out to?”
Regardless, Christie won’t ride in on a white horse to make the party establishment and political reporters happy. Time will probably be better spent now wondering who Romney will pick as his running mate.
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Eeyore on October 04, 2011 12:38 PM:
Even if Christie ran, he wouldn't ride in on a white horse. He'd come in from a N.J. state helicopter and have an SUV drive him to the ring before he tosses his hat in it. (That's how he attended his son's ball game).
DRF on October 04, 2011 12:41 PM:
The Christie boomlet seems to have been the creation of Bill Kristol and some other political commentators and media people. These people aren't reflective of the Republican Party's base, and it has always seemed to me that there was no groundswell of support among the base for Christie.
dalloway on October 04, 2011 12:49 PM:
DRF, you're so right. And what the gasbags like Kristol also fail to realize is that Romney is a similar creation of wishful thinking on the part of the Republican establishment, who don't have a clue that the base feels Romney's being shoved down their throats. Kristol and Co. are going to be gobsmacked when Romney gets trounced by a complete unknown, Nunn Uvtheeabov.
c u n d gulag on October 04, 2011 12:52 PM:
Jeb's still waiting by his phone, hoping it will ring.
And it might.
After all, the whole philosophy of Modern Conservatism is, "What will piss-off the Liberals the most." The Bush name will certainly do that.
And Jeb, being a Bush, can put together a campaign team pretty quick.
But, I don't think this country is ready for another Bush, even if it's 'Honestly, I Ain't My Brother' Jeb.
Maybe Ryan will rethink his position, or young Rubio (who I think is slated for the VP slot) can be convinced to come out.
Danp on October 04, 2011 12:53 PM:
All this flavor-of-the-month stuff is helpful to Romney. Now he gets to ride in as the invisible knight in shining armor. After the primary it will be good enough that he is "a good listener", has a reputation for being a maverick, or looks presidential.
Brenna on October 04, 2011 12:58 PM:
The white horse says: Thank God!
biggerbox on October 04, 2011 12:59 PM:
This just in, Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
pamelabrown53 on October 04, 2011 1:00 PM:
Damp, I think it's too early to rule President Obama out. He's a scrappy and charismatic campaigner with a mean counterpunch who is able to distill what's a stake. When it's mano a mano, I think the president will pull through.
ShadeTail on October 04, 2011 1:02 PM:
Here's a very good and topical cartoon from yesterday.
FriscoSF on October 04, 2011 1:07 PM:
Too bad !!
I guess the Republicans are stuck with the Bozos, the charlatans and the fools
wHAT A CHOICE !!
What was the name on that rock, again ??
doubtful on October 04, 2011 1:07 PM:
Christie is the Koch's man in 2016, and Jeb and the Bush camp are also eying 2016. They won't cede 2016 and beyond to Romney or a young VP, like Rubio. They will insure Obama wins.
sick-n-effn-tired. on October 04, 2011 1:15 PM:
My money is on Romney , they will hold their nose and vote just like they did with johnny Mac.
If that turns out to be the scenario it could be close considering the disenfranchisement efforts of the GOP.
Pray for you country and get off your ass and vote.
rrk1 on October 04, 2011 1:16 PM:
Christie's ego is now probably larger than he is, which is saying something, but he is ultimately intelligent enough to know not to roll the rock uphill. He has to be given credit for resisting the onslaught of luminaries who have been urging him to run.
Romney won't get any traction, but don't rule Perry out yet. The right-wing Christianist crowd loves him. He's one of them, and if they turn out in the primaries he still has a shot at it if the moderates stay home in large numbers. Let's not forget that it's the radicals who vote heavily in the primaries. At this point that's the only segment of the electorate that Perry appeals to. Scary as that is.
DAY on October 04, 2011 1:17 PM:
Election logistics say it is too late. A gazillion dollars can be raised quickly and under the table by some Citizens United scamps, but getting store fronts rented and experienced folks to man them cannot.
It took months and months for Ike to prepare for D Day- and all he had to do was cross a narrow body of water, and invade Europe. . .
Not Anonymous on October 04, 2011 1:17 PM:
Here we go folks - it was a nice country while it lasted.
http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/the-permanent-campaign/95720/palin-gop-2012-primary-romney-perry
slappy magoo on October 04, 2011 1:17 PM:
The GOP base is looking for a savior candidate because they believe in saviors. They believe their rights are under siege by a "black knight," they are a persecuted minority and only a fairytale ending will feel "right" to them. They need a hero. They're holding on for a hero till the morning light...and then they'll give up and blindly support Romney. because he's not Obama.
"What did you expect? "Welcome, sonny"? "Make yourself at home"? "Marry my daughter"? You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons."
Captcha says "psychotic iscrami" which I predict will be the name for the collection of b-sides by the Police.
Gus on October 04, 2011 1:23 PM:
It's about controlling the news space. Whether it is austerity, Obama's failed policies, scandals, presidential candidates or class warfare, it is about control. Put it in peoples minds. It is damaging to the anti-republican forces not respond or offer alternativesfor people to think about. What are liberals talking about? How Obama isn't doing it right. How do you suppose that is working out?
treetop on October 04, 2011 1:27 PM:
Romney will get the GOP nomination and Palin will run as an independent so Evangelicals don't have to vote for a cultist.
Brenna on October 04, 2011 1:28 PM:
My God. Been watching his press conference for almost a half hour. He's so happy and giddy about being in the spotlight. I think he's going to break out in song and dance in any minute.
slappy magoo on October 04, 2011 1:29 PM:
BTW, I'm not running for President, either. I only bring this up because I've never said I wasn't running for President before, let alone multiple times, therefore it actually qualifies as "news."
Peter on October 04, 2011 1:37 PM:
He's still talking an hour later! Guess this wasn't about his modesty after all.
ShadeTail on October 04, 2011 1:49 PM:
Hey, Mr. Moderator! RamosColleen at 1:45pm is spamming what appears to be a ponzi scheme or some such.
Phineus Phang on October 04, 2011 1:56 PM:
The reason for the Christie boomlet, like the reason for the now rapidly deflating Perry boomlet before it, is that the GOP is desperate for someone to put that uppity negra in the White House in his place and they don't think Romney is tough enough to do it. They don't much care about policy positions. They want a rhetorical lynching.
Perry got in trouble because his apparent squishiness on punishing the browns raised fears that he might not share the right's murderous hatred toward the negra usurper. In that sense, the flap over the name of his hunting camp is as likely to help Perry as hurt him, because the crude racism it revealed is reassuring to the right. I fully expect to see Perry's numbers tick up a bit over the next week.
Cha on October 04, 2011 2:19 PM:
@ Gus
What failed policies? All I see is success..oh, and fuck the corporatemediawhore$$ and the profiteering professional left.
And, thank goodness for Steve Benen and those like him who report news..not lies.
T2 on October 04, 2011 2:41 PM:
Common talking head "wisdom" after Christie said NO again is that the field is now set and that GOPers will have to give Perry another chance to wow them, or settle for Mitt (who nobody wants).
Here it is: Perry will not "change". He is who he is. He will not 'get better at debating', he will not "brush up on Foreign matters', he will not stop 'Ponzi' type gaffes. You've seen Rick Perry. But expect to see a bit nastier campaign from him. That's how he operates. And he's never lost an election.
pbg on October 04, 2011 4:28 PM:
He should go up to the microphone and put on a Ron Paul mask. That would make them stop asking him.
G.Kerby on October 04, 2011 4:36 PM:
@Slappy, it is amazing that Mr. Brooks predicted all of this decades ago, right down to the dialog.
Bassicdave on October 05, 2011 12:08 AM:
The die has been cast. The answer is, Christie will be Mitten's running mate.
Steve on October 05, 2011 1:00 AM:
"Time will probably be better spent now wondering who Romney will pick as his running mate."
Echoing Bassicdave, Christie, obviously.
bob h on October 05, 2011 6:43 AM:
In the endless discussion about Christie's plans, all the political experts talk of "2016". That seems to be an acknowledgement that Romney will not be winning next year.