American political experts are starting to become more and more interested in Chris Christie, Republican governor of New Jersey. Many Republican activists see him as the best presidential candidate.
Hopes connected with Chris Christie arose as a result of Republicans’ discontent with the current official candidates for the presidential nomination. For several months, support for Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, who is considered to be the Republican front-runner, has not exceeded 25 percent in the polls. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who for some time had more support, did not do well in the last two TV debates and has lost the lead. As a Republican and former federal prosecutor, Christie successfully governs a positively liberal state, where the position of governor is usually held by Democrats. Despite the economic crisis and recession, he has managed to balance the budget without raising taxes, in spite of the Democratic majority in the New Jersey Legislature.
The governor is known for his unusual style of communication with voters and the media. He rejects the canons of political correctness, expresses his thoughts bluntly and does not avoid confrontation. He told the teachers who demanded further salary increases that they did not have to teach at all. He openly admitted that cuts in popular federal funds (insurance and pensions for the elderly) would be necessary. His speeches are often humorous. Republican activists have been encouraging Christie to enter the presidential race for months. Until recently, the governor has firmly refused each time, but lately he has been implying that he may change his mind.
In some cases, Christie’s position is far from the ideals of the conservative GOP. He emphasizes that he acknowledges global warming. He supports restrictions on access to firearms, and same-sex partnerships. He has also said that “Being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.” Despite this, he is supported by many right-wing Republicans, including radical TV analyst Ann Coulter. They hope that Christie will prove to be a more serious opponent for President Barack Obama in next year’s election than Romney or Perry.
Recently, however, experts have been reminding us that Christie’s excess weight might stand in the way of his presidency. The governor is greatly overweight, which definitely distinguishes him from his potential rivals — for the time being. For about a hundred years, no U.S. president has been stout — modern culture dictates that one must watch their waistline.
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