“There’s a clear difference sometimes between the image that he tries to project versus the reality,” said the chief political strategist to one probable candidate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He says, ‘Oh, this bridge stuff is gone.’ No, it’s not. Then it’s ‘Oh, I’m the tough guy Republican who can grab Democrats by both shoulders and get stuff done.’ Not really. Most of the stuff he’s gotten done has been marginal and sometimes not effective. I just don’t think he plays well outside of New Jersey — certainly not outside the Northeast.”
These strategists largely agreed that Christie’s stewardship of the economy in the Garden State will be his most difficult obstacle to overcome…
Several of the strategists interviewed for this story suggested that perceptions of the governor as a bully will become more ingrained once he falls under the intense daily microscope of a presidential campaign.
And his GOP foes will be ready to highlight his intemperate side at every opportunity.
“A character hit is always more deadly than a policy hit because it’s easy for him to wiggle out of the economy thing — blame it on Obama or whatever,” said one Republican strategist who is helming the political operation of a likely 2016 contender. “What’s his way out of the bridge stuff? ‘I had no clue what the people on my staff were doing and created such a culture where people thought it was OK — not just rogue people, but my campaign manager.’ He’s basically saying the buck doesn’t stop here.”
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