Christie’s pitch to the GOP electorate consists of two nearly, but not quite, mutually exclusive concepts:
- I have governed successfully in a blue state by making deals with Democrats.
- I kick liberal butt.
This was always going to be a very difficult tightrope to walk, even under the best of circumstances. Then the evidence started pouring in that perhaps New Jersey was not as well-governed as he suggests, and Trump has outswaggered him at every turn. As a result, his campaign is on life support.
I have to admit, the thought of him engaging in chest-bumping with Vladimir Putin has some appeal, but it isn’t going to happen.