First he endorses a “path to citizenship,” then he endorses Mike Castle, now this.

Dude, I think he might be the RINO messiah.

“I think people need to be judged by the way they conduct themselves in the public arena, in a way that is as minimally staged as possible,” he said. “That’s where you really get to know people.”

When it was noted that Ms. Palin has preferred communicating with the public in ways she can control, Mr. Christie said that “rightfully has been criticized.”…

“You have to look at it and see, what are they like when they’re tested, what are they like when they’re not scripted, what are they like when they’re pushed,” he said. “And I would contend to you that if Governor Palin never does any of those things, she’ll never be president, because people in America won’t countenance that. They just won’t.”

You’ll find his comments on The One’s speech and the obligatory defense of Palin’s nonviolent intentions below. I know Palinistas are going to tear him apart in the comments, but isn’t this … good, constructive advice? I’ve made the same point before about her venturing out from behind the Fox News curtain to sit down with a fair reporter (e.g., Jake Tapper) for a freewheeling policy exchange. To her credit, she actually has started venturing out, chatting late last year with a Times reporter for their big Sunday Magazine piece about her advisors and with Robin Roberts and Barbara Walters for profile segments on ABC. Those weren’t policy interviews, though, and as much as her supporters like to point to her speeches and Facebook posts over the past few months on ObamaCare and quantitative easing, Christie’s right about the public wanting to see prospective candidates “tested” and “pushed.” That’s especially important for someone like Palin who, unfairly or not, is routinely derided by big media as a dimwit when they’re not busy calling her a murderer. After the Katie Couric interview and all the SNL skits, the only way to crack the ice of hardened public perceptions about “qualifications” is to bust through in real time.

Just as I’m writing this, news is breaking that she’s agreed to an interview tonight about her “blood libel” comment — with Sean Hannity. Exit question: How much longer until the big guy here really does start to be thought of as a squish? We’re still looking for a keynoter at RINOcon, you know.

Update: Scratch that last part. The Hannity interview is apparently set for Monday, not tonight.