The Republican Nomination For President: The Race For The Race For The White House

(CNN) -- I'm a Chris Christie fan. He's refreshing, he's raw, he takes on the big challenges, especially fiscal ones, and he's a Republican governor in a blue state, a helpful fact for a presidential candidate. But he's also late -- too late to successfully mount a winning campaign for the Republican nomination.
As the latest, and final, round of speculation about his candidacy peaks -- led by powerful contributors who see the New Jersey governor as the Republican party's best chance of winning the White House -- it's important to keep in mind how hard it is to win the presidency, or even the nomination, and why in the modern -- meaning instant everything -- Internet era of campaigning, getting in this late can doom even the best candidates.
The reason Mitt Romney is faring well so far in the campaign is that he has run for president before, making him a better candidate with a national structure in place to support him. The reason Rick Perry has hit a speed bump is that he's new to running nationally, and by getting in at the buzzer, he didn't leave himself much time or space for error. If Christie were to get in now, he would be swamped by the instant expectations of success, instant demands for access, and instant need to build a campaign apparatus that takes several months to properly create.


The fact his boosters seem to miss is that the difficulties of running nationally are exponentially greater than running in one state. And that's why it's too late for him to run -- at least to run and win

Round and round the speculation has swirled over whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will jump into the presidential race. After his speech Tuesday night, only one conclusion is possible: Chris Christie is not running for president until such time as he decides he will run for president, which he might announce in a sentence that abuts a previous one denying that he's running for president. Twice he was asked about his intentions. Once he seemed to say he wasn't running. The second time he suggested he was considering it. The effect could only have been improved if he had spoken while circling a mulberry bush.

I wish Chris Christie would run. He's promising truth telling, detailed solutions to problems like entitlement growth, tax reform and foreign entanglemetns-- all of it delivered in an entertaining package. Candidates usually make stiff declarations about how honest and direct they're going to be while planning to be nothing of the kind. It would be a service and entertaining to see someone give it an actual try. It also might smoke out the other Republican candidates into venturing a few plain statements or at least fleeing with less haste from their previous ones.
Would Christie run a campaign as bold as the one he promised Tuesday night in his forceful and wide-ranging address at the Regan Library? Here's how he says he's done it in New Jersey: "It is a simple but powerful message–lead on the tough issues by telling your citizens the truth about the depth of our challenges. Tell them the truth about the difficulty of the solutions. This is the only effective way to lead in America during these times." Later, in his call for strong leadership he said one of America's greatest challenges was "to not become a country that places comfortable lies ahead of difficult truths."

Christie's reputation for blunt talk about everything from deficits to unions and telling off those who challenge him is what's creating the presidential buzz, so he has the aptitude. But in handling the buzz he's not exactly being a straight shooter.
When asked if he was running, Christie directed the audience to a Politico video compilation of his many denials. This seemed to close the door, though not all the way which was the kind of too cute behavior you'd hope someone like Chris Christie stand up and lampoon

The only one who is still teasing, and promoting guessing games, is Palin, not Christie.

The governor said he was listening to those urging him to run, adding that he was taking it in and “feeling it too.” But he continued, “by the same token, that heartfelt message you gave me is also not a reason for me to do it. That reason has to reside inside me. That’s what I’ve said all along. I know without ever having met President Reagan that he must’ve felt deeply in his heart that he was called to that moment to lead our country. And so my answer to you is just this, I thank you for what you’re saying.”

With that, Christie ensured the speculation would go on.

As for Palin, almost no one cares what she does, she is not a serious contender for the White House.

A lot of people do care about what she decides to do.

There's something about him I don't like though.

SNIP

It is a theme based on smug condescension which Huntsman is at least unwise to use on fellow Republicans.

The RNC claims that NH, Nevada, SC and FL will lose half their delegates.

I find what Christie is saying quite clear. He understands why others want him to run, but that's not sufficient reason for him to run.

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I find what Christie is saying quite clear. He understands why others want him to run, but that's not sufficient reason for him to run.

You were wrong as usual, as today some insiders from his camp said that he is seriously considering running.