Christie For President? Part 3

In February, 2014, New Jersey's largest newspaper, The Star-Ledger, "broke up" with Chris Christie, saying their endorsement of him for reelection had been a mistake and that he was the "most overrated governor in the country." (Read it here.)

Now, in an editorial titled "Gov. Christie loses his marbles on national TV," the paper throws more shade on the guv. I was going to link to it, but it's not that long, so here's the text in its entirety:

For months, we have wondered how Gov. Chris Christie thinks he can win the presidency when New Jersey is in such rotten shape after his six years in office.

Now we may have our answer: The man has lost touch with reality.

In a national TV interview Monday, Christie was asked to explain why 65 percent of New Jersey voters think he'd make a bad president.

His answer: We love him so much that we want him to remain our governor." They want me to stay," he told Megyn Kelly of Fox News. "A lot of those people in that 65 percent want me to stay. And I've heard that from lots of people at town hall meetings."

Maybe he doesn't believe that himself. That might step on his core pitch about telling the truth, but it would at least tether him to the planet earth.

The worry is that he really believes it. Politicians like him live in a bubble, surrounded by sycophants. Hard truths have a tough time penetrating.

We are here to help. First, the governor needs to hold more town hall meetings in Democratic districts, and at night when working people can attend. He preaches to elderly and overwhelmingly white audiences, over and over.

Second, he needs to look beyond this one poll and spot the pattern. Only 1 in 3 approve of his performance. And even fewer believe he's coming clean about Bridgegate.

Last, he needs to pour himself a drink and ask himself the tough question: Why don't people love me?

It could be the rotten job market. Or the high property taxes. Or the crumbling transit system. Or the broken promise on pensions. Or the private jets. Or the Bridgegate indictments. And so on.

It's no wonder that New Jersey is screaming a warning to the rest of the country. God forbid he gets a chance to make an even bigger mess on a larger stage.

Christie hasn't officially declared yet, or even "announced to announce" a date when he will make his candidacy official. My guess at this point is that in the end he will decline to run, saying that he needs to focus on his current job of running New Jersey and/or spend more time with his family. Stay tuned. 

Days until Election Day: 537