New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is slated to take over the powerful chairmanship with the Republican Governors Association in 2014, reports CNN.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (Courtesy of Gov. Christie's Office)
The position will give the former New Jersey U.S. Attorney “a national platform to seek the presidency should Mitt Romney falter in November,” CNN wrote.
The well-known GOP governor faces a reelection campaign next year, so Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will serve as the association head in 2013. Though Christie has not said whether he will seek a second term, this development seems to signal he’s running for re-election. The RGA is a fundraising powerhouse for Republicans across the country and a means of building political networks.
CNN reported that the association still has to vote on the proposed arrangement at their November meeting in Las Vegas.
Christie was on lists as a potential Mitt Romney running mate (though other commentators noted that Romney didn’t seem to get along very well with the blustery, often tardy Christie). Others had hoped Christie would have been at the top of the ticket. Pundit Ann Coulter, in a video clip that has been widely replayed, said at the Conservative Political Action Conference this year that if Christie didn’t run for president, Romney would be nominated and lose.
Christie is popular among Republicans because of his blunt speaking style and ability to eloquently frame the issues, though he doesn’t have close ties to the increasingly influential social and religious conservatives in the party. He has been a highly visible surrogate for the Romney campaign, though he caught flak for a speech at the Republican National Convention in which he talked about himself more than Romney.
It’s tough to run for president when you have lost your last race. Right now, Christie would lose to an unnamed Democrat if seeking re-election to the governorship of NJ. 40%-44%.