Jersey Bore: Christie Cruises to Easy Victory

Chris Christie is returning to the governor’s mansion with a crushing victory in Tuesday’s election. That was to be expected. What makes his win interesting is the fact that so many people who don’t agree with him voted for him.

It’s that kind of formula that Republicans are always looking for in a national candidate, and Christie’s appeal with people who oppose his politics could have national implications.

The New York Times explains:

In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by over 700,000, Mr. Christie won decisively, making impressive inroads among younger voters, blacks, Hispanics and women — groups that Republicans nationally have struggled to attract.

The governor prevailed, according to exit polls, despite holding positions contrary to those of many New Jersey voters on many issues, including same-sex marriage, abortion rights and the minimum wage, and despite an economic recovery that has trailed the rest of the country. But he attracted a broad coalition by campaigning as a decisive, even swaggering, leader who could reach across the aisle to solve problems, unlike the bickering politicians of Washington.

— Posted by Peter Z. Scheer