Will Chris Christie's "I'm an Asshole" Persona Sell Outside NJ?

[ZX86]

I really can't stand this guy. I'm amazed that he's popular anywhere. He appears to be the front runner for 2016. Should I be worried or relieved?

[Benton D Struckcheon]

1. Both

1 - Worried: he really would have a good chance of winning. He blows a hole right in the middle of the Northeast if he runs. His "persona" would be red meat to the Republicans.
2 - Relieved: a Republican will win the WH sooner or later. There's worse than Christie. Between Cruz and Christie, I'll take Christie.

[ZX86]

3. You think his type of urban northeastern big city assholery

will sell with rural redneckism that populates most of today's current Republican party?

[Benton D Struckcheon]

6. Oh yeah.

Where I live is Tea Party central here in NJ, represented by one Scott Garrett, a hardcore member of that vomitacious bunch. Believe me, they love Christie here.
Christie has made sure to keep his right flank protected by opposing any sort of gun control, gay marriage, you name it. So they can't get him on that. They certainly could never get him on taxes. The only vulnerability he might have is immigration, but I have no doubt he'll polish that between now and 2016.
As for his assholery, it plays. It's just a male version of Sarah Palin, except Christie has a brain and didn't quit as governor to be a pundit on Fox News.

[Cosmocat]

15. Yes

there is one thing that republicans' rally around - hating democrats.

They will get behind him. They are MEAN and angry, and end of the day he will make a very good vessel for it.

[SteveG]

10. Don't think so

Unfortunately, he is up against a lightweight Democratic candidate in NJ. I doubt he could carry the state in a Presidential election, especially if Hillary is the Democratic candidate.

[bigdarryl]

33. Yep the democrats in this State didn't even try to win

After Booker rebuffed them to run

[Freddie]

2. It's not just a persona

He's the genuine article

[Jamaal510]

4. I'm not so sure about the

"I'm an asshole" persona, but Christie can lead people into thinking he is more moderate than he really is. His union-busting, anti-gay, anti-education, and anti-tax agenda all got swept under the rug by the supposed-liberal media once he started getting a little friendly with the President, and he is on track to win big on Tuesday. Furthermore, when compared alongside Cruz, Paul, et al, Christie does seem like a moderate.
All in all, I would only be worried if enough states are able to change their election rules so that less people can vote by 2016.

[Azathoth]

5. Christie sort of grows on you

He's dangerous because he's essentially genuine: a quasi-honest conservative slob who will do the right thing when shit gets real. Once upon a time, that was what it meant to be a mainstream conservative. Sadly, in today's world of talk radio-fueled psychosis and nihilism, that makes him the reasonable, moderate alternative.

[Cosmocat]

16. I have changed my position - he is absolutely a threat

I THOUGHT his distemperate nature would get him in trouble on a national run, but in retrospect he will be easy for republican's to rally around.

They, and their doting media, bizarrely spun an entitled halfwit who had no business being POTUS as "they guy you would like to have a beer with" in beating a decent, intelligent and competent vice president.

They can spin ANYTHING, and he readily becomes the vessel to have a no nonsense guy clean up Washington.

Only hope is Hill ... Having that strong female presence will help to make it a little harder to sell the meanness he embodies, and the female vote becomes increasingly influential.

[BillyRibs]

7. Christie sort of grows on you?

Yeah, Like a Fungus on a rock, and who wants that!?

[Azathoth]

9. The guy's got an approval rating near 70%

Last I saw it was something like 66%, and he's utterly crushing Buono. New Jersey has its share of right-wing nutcases, but not that many; it's a politically sane state overall. Christie is very dangerous.

[BillyRibs]

13. Popular or not he's a bully and a jerk.

he gets his way cause The potus wont back a Democratic candidate And Piss poor news reporting like Klan Radio 101.5.

[tabbycat31]

17. I partially blame the media on his popularity

If they would stop sucking his dick for 5 minutes, maybe people will see the real Christie Kreme.

[nevergiveup]

8. The only Democrat who might possibly beat him in 2016

is Hillary and I wouldn't put any money on her. This guy is for real and the media loves him. Nationally he is the most threatening potential Republican presidential candidate I have seen in many years. His one weakness is his nasty temper but if he can learn to keep it in check it will be smooth sailing. IMHO

[davidpdx]

37. I honestly disagree

and your argument makes it sound like if Christie runs we will be so desperate to win that it's Hillary or nobody. People are making Christie out to be some oversized Superman. I think if we go into 2016 with that attitude we will lose.

[Chan790]

11. Yes.

Not everywhere...but enough places to get him the nomination and cause headaches because the places it's going to play best is with Republicans in Democratic stronghold states with slightly more-moderate GOPs: NJ, NY, New England, Mid-Atlantic and the West Coast. We have a problem if we nominate moderate...he will win at-least one state we'd consider safe-Democratic because he will energize a repressed state GOP at the same time a moderate Democrat will depress a more-liberal than the national Democratic party state electorate.

Hope it's not NY or PA.

[gopiscrap]

12. not well enough to get elected President

[Sunlei]

14. He's smalltown Mayor material who lets the other republicans do whatever they want

Perfect republican presidential material. The "I'm an Asshole" Persona" gets the votes, so the main republicans can continue to bleed America dry. Once they're in office the voters don't matter at all anymore to republicans.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

18. What nevergiveup and Chan790 said,

and I would add that his "persona" will be taken as a "breath of fresh air" (™, Marca Registrada, ©) as it sharply contrasts with Obama's calmness and rationality. Whoever runs against him if he gets the nomination will have to be just as blunt.

[politicat]

19. He doesn't play well in the western states.

He comes across as a city slicker blowhard. Western Republicans have their many faults, but they trend old school conservative.

Unfortunately, we don't have early primaries so the western states aren't a good derail.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

20. Maybe (unfortunately)

I was talking to a co-worker who appeared to be fairly progressive in her personal beliefs ask me what I thought of him possibly being President like she wasn't scared/worried about the prospect thereof. Of course, the biggest question regarding Christie being a probable candidate for POTUS is whether or not he could get through the primary process and win over enough of the baggers. Of course, the baggers haven't been able to nominate one of their own yet, so, while they have a huge influence on the process, they can't quite keep the John McCains and Mitt Romneys from ultimately winning. Of course, both of them had to sell their souls to the teabaggers to have a shot at winning but Christie is not quite as "moderate" as some people think he is, so..............

[Mz Pip]

21. I doubt he could make it through the primaries

Not because of his personality but because he dint Teabagger enough.
Look how far right Mitwit had to go to win the primary and he was still considered too moderate by many Republicans.

I may be wrong but I don't see Christie pandering the way Romney did. He'll be a what you see is what you get kind of candidate and the nut bag primary voters will vote for Cruz or Randy Paul.

[justaclerk soc]

22. No way

He won't make it through the primaries. He spends too much money for the R agenda, and I don't see them pushing another Northeasterner out front for a long long time.

[gopiscrap]

24. welcome to DU

[justaclerk soc]

25. Thank you

[gopiscrap]

27. You're welcome, hope you have a good time here.

[warrior1]

23. you have to remember he won't be running alone

the teabags while rip him to shreds. I doubt he'll survive even them. He made seem like a hard ass on the outside, but he always runs from fights. He also is reported to have a lot of skeletons in his closet.

[Politicalboi]

26. Hopefully not

20 years ago I would say he doesn't stand a chance with that mouth, and the stupid things he says. But today, he fits right in with the Teabaggers.

[PeteSelman]

28. Yes, people love the bully schtick.

I work with a lot of them. They're totally enamored with the whole "tell it like it is" attitude. If he can get by the primary I think he'll win. It's scary.

[Dawson Leery]

29. He is the most formidable should the winds turn against the Democrats in 2016.

On the other hand, the teakooks still have big money behind them
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014637967

[geek tragedy]

30. Amongst Republican primary voters, absolutely. nt

[Wounded Bear]

31. I fear that many Repubs will think and say....

"That's MY asshole."

Somehow, that seems to work for them.

[ancianita]

32. Average Joes/Janes like a tough guy with simple answers. But his capacity for domestic/geopolitics

just isn't there. It's not time to be worried yet.

[lancer78]

34. Chris Christie

lets his emotions get the better of him. As Darth Vader said "Your emotions betray you" so will Christies' emotions betray him. If the incident with him yelling at the teacher been videotaped and would have happened a month ago or earlier, he might be losing the race right now.

[Brigid]

35. As Midwesterner, I doubt it.

Most of us tend to be put off by pushy Northeastern assholes.

[Sunlei]

36. let's see Christie go global NOW and visit with a couple of world leaders. he will fail big time.

worse than Romney.

He is nothing without major R handlers and massive amounts of money backers. He can't stand alone.

[davidpdx]

38. For everyone who thinks that Christie is all that and a bag of chips

I'd challenge you on your thinking. The guy has a rude, nasty temper and is disrespectful to people.

First, Please ask yourself which was the last president with that type of demeaned was elected. I won't hold my breath on an answer.

Second, how well has the guy been vetted? He's run for NJ governor twice, but never in a national campaign. How is he going to react to be thoroughly vetted and having cameras shoved in his face 24/7? The truth is we don't really know.

Third, the people who are pushing the "only Hillary can beat Christie" meme are wrong. This is just another backdoor way to the Clinton inevitability scheme we've seen before.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. Where are you from?..."and a bag of chips"....I bet not from the northeast...Am I right?

"rude and nasty temper and respectfulness" is what we are all about.

[davidpdx]

41. No, I'm not from the NE

The closest I've been in Virginia and DC. I'm a west coast person. I don't know a lot of people from the NE, but I do know a few. I have heard people from New York are pretty rude, but I don't necessarily believe that.

Having seen how Christie acts though, it is pretty transparent what his attitude is. I don't think that has to do with where he comes from, but his personality (or lack thereof).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

42. So, where are you from?

[davidpdx]

43. Points to the flag

<------------We are just a bunch a peace nuggies out here on the west coast.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

44. man...had to blow that up...sorry. Northeasterners are against war too

But, just say whatever-the-hell they want. Truely. They are sarcastic and funny as hell.

[davidpdx]

45. As long as people know it's not the wild wild west out here anymore

I mean we have streets, and highways, and toilets.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Not in Texas. There is no nuance, crudeness, intellectualism, outside-the-boxism, cool here nt

[vinny9698]

46. He has to much baggage and his weight

There is a reason why the Romney Campaign passed on him to be their VP choice. He wouldn't even answer all their questions.
Will his health keep up with the strains of a national campaign? He can barely walk without huffing and a puffing.

[libdem4life]

47. Both health and weight concerns...PC or not..he's got to have a heart and/or blood pressure problem

along with his rage which is likely a stress issue. Add to that a self-described "asshole"?

Americans tend to elect presidents who appear healthy, can jog with the press, or walk their dog further than a few steps without getting winded. Also, those whose demeanor will reflect well on the global stage.