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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChris Christie’s 4 obstacles to the White House
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/new-jersey/2014/11/06/chris-christies-obstacles-white-house/18602423/<snip>
1. The public worker pension system is a wreck
Christie way back in August formed a task force to suggest fixes to ease a forecasted $90 billion drain on future budgets from unfunded liabilities. Now that the midterm elections have come and gone, Christie is due to release the panels final recommendations. Labor unions and Democrats may not be pleased.
2. Atlantic City casinos are closing on a monthly basis
Another initiative that has been on hold until after the midterm elections concerns Atlantic Citys rehabilitation. Christie called the gaming resorts fall a crisis when he convened a meeting of industry leaders Sept. 9. He said there would be more brainstorming and that proposed fixes are coming.
3. The states credit rating is in the toilet
Standard & Poors in September said the states below-expected tax revenues and Christie's oversight of the pension system has "significant negative implications." The ratings agency gave New Jersey the same general-obligation grade as California. Only Illinois is lower. Is there time for Christie to pump up the rating before his focus turns to the White House?
4. The George Washington Bridge scandal
Is Christie in the clear on time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee? He seems to think so. But the last word may belong to the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Paul Fishman, whose office has been working the case since January. If more of Christies close advisers are found to have participated in the lane closures, that could sink his presidential ambitions.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Ruthless?.. Yes. Smart? Not so much.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Casinos - can be spun as dens of iniquity or something
Bridge - GOP loves them some revenge on Dems
Public workers should not even HAVE pensions, according to the GOP. Excepting themselves, of course
Credit rating? Didn't hurt Brownback. GOP voters don't really look at that sort of thing. Remember Bush's various business failures?
It might take a Jebbie to push that bully out of the nomination.
TlalocW
(15,384 posts)But in regards to just winning the nomination, he's going to be called on giving up the fight against marriage equality in his state. That's not going to endear him to the religiously insane bloc of his party.
I'm kind of looking forward to when everyone starts piling on him in debates for that and palling around with Obama. He's used to being a loud-mouthed jerk to get his way, but some of the other repubs likely to run are just as big a jerk as he is and won't be intimidated.
TlalocW