Would Christie get your vote today for President?

The promotional commercial running on New Jersey 101.5 for the monthly “Ask the Governor” show has News Director Eric Scott asking the Governor the immortal question,

“…are you running for President?”

To which the Governor gives an almost “sotto voce”

“I’m not sure!”
Or words to that effect.

And every day there’s a new poll coming out that suggests he doesn’t have a chance in a hypothetical match against possible Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton.

According to a report on nj1015.com quoting a Quinnipiac University poll,

“Hillary Clinton beats him 50 to 40 percent overall, and she beats him among women overwhelmingly, by 20 points — 56 to 36 percent,” said Maurice “Mickey” Carroll, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

For someone who was part of an administration that underestimated the threat posed by ISIS and the Benghazi debacle, it’s a wonder she’s as high as she is in the polls.

Perhaps a low blow on my part, but we’re entering the season of low blows.

Anyhow, Carroll suggests Christie has lots of ground to make up should he decide to take on Clinton.

What all stands in the way?

First of all, it would have something to do with his record as Governor – the mark of anyone aspiring to the Executive branch of government.

Carroll said:

“The news media continues to mention Bridgegate, and the reality of the state’s huge pension problem is beginning to sink in,” Carroll said, “and the pension commission the governor created will soon make recommendations and that ominous word ‘taxes’ is starting to show up in the discussions.”

So what do we have:

Bridgegate - which won’t go away even though there’s no evidence to suggest he had anything to do with the lane closings.

Unemployment in the state – which still ranks as the highest in the region.

The state’s pension problem as stated above.

And one more thing which may or may not be important.

Image!

This comes from a political insider friend of mine who’ll remain nameless. I was told – in the most unflattering of terms which I will not repeat here – that the rest of the country doesn’t want what could be best described as a “Jersey cafone!” running the country.

Which, quite frankly, I don’t buy. In fact, I countered that perhaps that’s what we needed (jokingly!)

But if you watch the interview he did this morning with Gayle King on the CBS Morning News, she asks if we’re seeing a softer “Christie.”

He claims “Christie” is the same guy.

But pictures don’t lie – and if anything, he does come off rather soft-spoken.

No doubt some of the “Jersey cafone” factor my friend spoke of has been scraped away.

Sleeker, shinier, softer, but ready for prime time?

You be the judge: