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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Why Chris Christie bear hug will deliver White House to Barack Obama -- Did New Jersey governor deliberately snub Mitt Romney after VP diss?

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Why Chris Christie bear hug will deliver White House to Barack Obama -- Did New Jersey governor deliberately snub Mitt Romney after VP diss?

Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2012 at 06:58 AM

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Chris Christie and Barack Obama speak during the President's visit
to Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s bear hug embrace of Barack Obama during Hurricane Sandy will deliver the White House again to Barack Obama, I believe.

Since he did so the polls have moved perceptively to Obama, which should allow him to eke out a 51 per cent to 49 per cent victory in the popular vote I predict.

It was an extraordinary moment and a dagger aimed at the heart of Republican contender Mitt Romney who had passed Christie over for the Vice President slot after originally indicating he was choosing him as Politico.com revealed.

(There is no love lost between the two Republicans, they angrily disputed why Christie was not on the stage at a Romney rally in neighboring Pennsylvania on election eve.)

Christie saw himself on the sidelines and knew a victory for Romney essentially sidelined him for a possible eight years. He likely made a calculation that Obama would be re-elected.

Facing probable political oblivion, Christie acted.

Read more on the US Presidential Election here

Embracing Obama ensured his re-election in New Jersey also with Obama hardly likely to champion a Democratic opponent. It also ensured that moderate Democrats will be naturally drawn to supporting him when he runs for re-election.

It was a lifeline to Obama. Barack Obama was in a desperate fight to the death last week and in a dead heat at best when the hurricane struck.

Americans rally to the president in a crisis and Obama has the Commander-in-Chief down to an art form.

But the Christie embrace was the icing on the cake. Americans yearn for the type of cross community politics that sees politicians from opposite sides work together.

There are few more popular figures than the larger-than-life Christie who has never met a doughnut stand he didn’t like and calls a spade a spade.

When he appeared all day with Obama it sent a clear message to Americans that despite the attempt to demonize Obama by the GOP, Christie was willing to work with him.

The polls that had been in a permanent freeze before Sandy began to tick back in Obama’s direction and he goes into Election Day with polls clearly moving in his direction.

In a very uncertain year, that last tilt in the polls will, I think, put Obama over the top. The October/November surprise in the end proved to be of all things a hurricane and a 350 pound governor from the opposite party feeling the love for the president.

That’s politics. Who wudda thunk it?

Read more on the US Presidential Election here

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conorsmom | Nov 06, 2012, 04:04 PM EST

Irishboy 1952- You call the President a "Murderer"- You are part of the inside circle of the White House? You know what goes on inside the Presidents heart and head? Also, you know "hundreds" of Dems voting for Romney? As a fellow Jersian, you are so far off base if it insulting to everyone else in the state.

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lokionline | Nov 06, 2012, 03:55 PM EST

Eamonn... do you really live in Dublin? If you do it must somewhere on the south side.

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lokionline | Nov 06, 2012, 03:50 PM EST

This was very smart politics and very smart governing from Christie. My previous reservations about him have been mollified enormously. If he can stop acting like a New Jersey "punk" in public he has a real chance now of National office.

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EamonnDublin | Nov 06, 2012, 03:50 PM EST

"Susan723.25" - As Aristotle himself said, "A sense of humour is the BEST intelligence, it enables one to make a make a man laugh as you defeat his every move - therefore, everyone's a winner, even one's defeated foe, the loser". Now, my DEAR Sue, START LAUGHING! Ah go ON! It doesn't hurt. Honestly! Éamonn, Dublin.

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merefalow | Nov 06, 2012, 03:35 PM EST

great,honest feelings,not snake oil flip flop steer any way the prevailing winds blow,good man.

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susan724 | Nov 06, 2012, 02:53 PM EST

DEamonnDublin - Ahhhhh, but I do have a sense of humor - precisely why I read you opinions, albeit not intelligent - though humorous...

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shuvonn | Nov 06, 2012, 02:47 PM EST

I really am amazed that anyone could vote for a presidential hopeful who shows such distain for nearly half of the population of the US who are retired people vets, etc... its too late in the season for flip flops. He was for Obamacare before he was against it. He claimed he'd be BI-partisan but his voting record in Mass proves that supposed record he now touts in HIS campaign for *CHANGE* he voted 800 plus times against Democrats in Mass. His second fiddle lied when confronted by his blasting of Stimulus Funding while begging for it at least 3 times for his state. If this disaster has struck IF Romney was in, the states affected would have been responsible for all of the costs, what a DISASTER!

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EamonnDublin | Nov 06, 2012, 02:39 PM EST

"Parents" - Love you too, Baby!! Éamonn, Dublin.

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Parents | Nov 06, 2012, 02:34 PM EST

If Romney gets in - then that 47% he spoke of at the 50,000 ea rally with complete disdain will be rising and the pockets of his multi-millionaire cronies will be full. Why are all the spokespeople for the Romney group loud and rude and shout over anyone else like he did in the first debate. He was rude and arrogant and quite sickening.

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EamonnDublin | Nov 06, 2012, 01:50 PM EST

But, m'Darling "Susan723.5" you ARE reading my opinions! So they MUST be intelligent, if you read what you said correctly. BTW, you don't appear to have the SLIGHTEST sense of humour, which is a bit sad. If Obama gets in again, you'll NEED a sense of humour. Now, smile for the camera - there's a good girl! Éamonn, Dublin.

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Parents | Nov 06, 2012, 01:39 PM EST

irishboy 1952 you are nothing short of scary hateful and cynical

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susan724 | Nov 06, 2012, 01:36 PM EST

Nicomax, I don't think Christie would have chosen the VP candidacy with Mitt- Didn't they offer it to him and he turned it down? I think behind closed doors, he did and Ryan was second fiddle(so appropriate for this idiot). Also, Christie turned down Mitt to appear with him at a rally only 20 minutes away from where Mitt was holding it. Christie is in trouble in NJ and wants to get re-elected and he knows aligning himself with Mittens won't do it. Just like no Republicans will align themselves with Bush and cronies, they're toxic!

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Parents | Nov 06, 2012, 01:32 PM EST

jetsnoone - yes for sure I just mean it was yet another demonstration - he really does care and I think it's great they are working tog. "a baby killer" - how dare you and are you and the other cult people speaking for god or just your own cult? He is leaving it up to those involved, it's their choice and it is not yours for sure and not Mitt Romney's. This cultish thing is making me sick...do as you wish but do not force your views on others.

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susan724 | Nov 06, 2012, 01:27 PM EST

EamonnDublin - I only read those opinions that are intelligent and frankly, m'dear, yours are not. As far as your mojo, it appears that someone threw water on yours years ago.

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patriciabruhn | Nov 06, 2012, 01:02 PM EST

The hug was not about republican or democrat, it was about a bad storm & it's path of destruction. THis is why we are so divided, the media writes their opinion about a hug and turns it into a political move?? The President did his job and showed up to see first hand what was happening and to see what was needed for the people. nothing more nothing less.

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