Gov. Chris Christie wasn’t willing to give up the New Jersey statehouse to be Mitt Romney’s running mate because he doubted they’d win, The Post has learned.
Romney’s top aides had demanded Christie step down as the state’s chief executive because if he didn’t, strict pay-to-play laws would have restricted the nation’s largest banks from donating to the campaign — since those banks do business with New Jersey.
But Christie adamantly refused to sacrifice his post, believing that being Romney’s running mate wasn’t worth the gamble.
“[Christie] felt, at one point, that [President] Obama could lose this. And, look, there still is that chance. But he knows, right now, you have to say it’s unlikely,” one source said.
Did Christie, who is making the keynote speech at this week’s Republican National Convention, make the right move?
Interestingly, it could be a blank website that provides the greatest hint as to who Romney will pick.The Daily Dot’s Justin Franz • Claiming that Mitt Romney’s vice president might be hinted at simply by reading the social media tea leaves. Their guess? TPaw. Tim Pawlenty? Their evidence: Pawlenty’s site is currently down and has a “Please come back later” message on it, and that he hasn’t updated his main social media outlets in two or more weeks. Bobby Jindal and Rob Portman, the other two candidates suggested to be in the top three, have meanwhile kept their social media presences strong. Will the Web give away the story before Romney can announce it? That’s what The Daily Dot seems to be banking on.
» Spending a lot, not getting much back? With pricey losses and close contests, including in Iowa and South Carolina, the Mitt train seems to be losing some steam. And his toughest week is ahead of him: With contests in Arizona and Michigan in just a week, and Super Tuesday on the horizon, there’s a good chance he may not be able to pull it off, leading to the possibility of a “brokered” or “contested” convention in August.
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
