Governor Humblebrag

Josh Levitt
Buono for Governor

With 400,000 New Jerseyans out of work and property taxes continuing to skyrocket, you would think that Governor Christie's full attention and energy would be on strengthening New Jersey’s economy. Yet it’s clear that Governor Christie has prioritized his national political ambitions above the needs of New Jersey. His affinity for appearing on television shows and bragging about being courted by the Koch brothers trumps his interest in addressing the tough problems facing New Jersey. With so much at stake, New Jersey cannot afford another four years of Governor Christie’s self-interest.


New Book Quotes Not-So-Humble Christie on Presidential Thoughts
By Jonathan Martin//New York Times
...After Mr. Christie said he did not want any favors or campaign titles in return, Mr. Romney turned to his wife and said, “Wow, Christmas in October.” Turning back to Mr. Christie, Mr. Romney said, “Governor, you don’t know how important and big this is.” To which Mr. Christie said, “I do.”

Book: Chris Christie Is Awesome, According to Chris Christie
Philly Mag
The NYT reports today on a new book by Dan Balz, a veteran reporter, about the 2012 election. It apparently focuses a bit on Chris Christie’s ultimate decision not to run, but in so doing reveals the New Jersey governor’s, uh, self-regard. “It is hardly unusual for a politician to have an outsized ego,” the Times says in its overview of the book, “but Mr. Christie lacks the masking subtlety possessed by many in his business.”

Christie Defends TV Appearances as ‘Good Thing’ for New Jersey
By Terrence Dopp//Bloomberg
Give Chris Christie a television appearance or two and he’ll change the way you look at New Jersey. At least, that’s the way he tells it. New Jersey’s cachet has risen recently, and the governor’s turns on “Saturday Night Live” and David Letterman’s show are proof of that, Christie said today in Brick, where he announced a round of $100 million in federal funding to raise flood-prone houses. “When I became governor, the stuff people saw on TV about New Jersey was usually me carting off politicians to jail, ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Real Housewives of New Jersey’ and — God forbid — the kids from ‘The Jersey Shore,’” Christie told reporters today. “To the extent that I can go out there and show a different side to our state, especially now as we’re trying to rebuild it, is a good thing for our state.”

Chris Christie: My TV Gigs Are Good For New Jersey
AP
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says his regular television appearances generate positive publicity for the state. Christie says when he became governor in 2010 the state's image was being shaped by the mob drama "The Sopranos" and reality shows "Jersey Shore" and "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." Christie, who has become a national figure in his three years as governor, says people now have a more positive image of the state.

Gov. Christie: 'Happy' to be on Michael J. Fox show
By Catalina Camia//USA Today
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says there's no chance of him giving up his day job so he can give acting a try. The Republican filmed a guest appearance — as himself — on Michael J. Fox's new NBC show, which will air this fall. The Huffington Post reported Monday that this is Christie's "first foray into scripted comedy" after making several appearances on late-night TV talk shows. "You're not gonna have to worry about me leaving New Jersey to go begin my acting career," Christie said Tuesday. "I think I'm much better at this than that."

Chris Christie Says He's Doing Jersey a Favor Just By Being Chris Christie
By John Nichols//The Nation
...Chris Christie isn’t grabbing the national spotlight in order to enhance his re-election prospects and position himself for 2016. Chris Christie is doing New Jersey a favor. And if you don’t agree, there’s a pretty good chance the governor will go on national television and call you “stupid.”

Will he or won't he? Christie, Buono trade barbs as governor's race heats up over debates question
By Jenna Portnoy//The Star-Ledger
...Asked about the barb during a news conference in Brick today, Christie came back swinging. “That's what a lot of people think about me in New Jersey. I'm sure that the word 'coward' is something that immediately pops up,” the Republican governor said, sarcastically, and continued: “Listen, I read about that. The fact of the matter is that Barbara Buono's worst days of the campaign will be the days that I debate her. I can assure you that."

Christie Stars in NJ Tourism Ads, Dems Cry Foul
By Shushannah Walshe//ABC News
…“They are in a uniquely qualified position to tell a very wide audience beyond New Jersey that our state and our Shore is open for business,” Reed said in a statement.

Dems object as Christie clan stars in publicly funded tourism ads
By Jenna Portnoy//The Star-Ledger
…Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said it was MWW’s idea to feature the governor, his wife and their four children in the commercials."It’s pretty hard to argue that (the Christies) are in a uniquely qualified position to tell a very wide audience beyond New Jersey that our state and our Shore are open for business," Drewniak said. "And remember that the use of funds for the ad campaign was approved by the Obama administration from the first round of (block grant) money."

Christie hopes Latino vote helps bring 'very big' victory in November
By Matthew Arco//Politicker NJ
The state’s Republican incumbent governor is hoping a campaign surge within New Jersey’s Latino community will help give way to a “very, very, very big win in November.”

Christie wants to be re-elected by record amount
By Matthew Arco//Politicker NJ
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s setting his sights on garnering more than 50 percent of voter support in his bid for re-election. The governor told NJTV’s Michael Aron on this week’s On the Record he hopes to, first and foremost, win in the upcoming general election, but says a “big win” would be ideal. Christie said an election in which a Republican candidate can capture more than half the vote in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans almost five-to-one would be nothing short of record-breaking. “Let’s put in context what big means for a Republican governor in the state of New Jersey,” Christie said during the 25-minute interview. “We’re talking 25 years ago was the last time a Republican got about 50 percent in New Jersey,” he said, referring to the 1985 election when former Gov. Tom Kean trounced Peter Shapiro by about 70 percent to 30 percent. “So I’m shooting for that,” he said, referring to receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. “I’m shooting to break that record.”