Christie today left open possibility of a 2016 run, saying he would have to decide whether to seek re-election as governor
Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), left, and moderator David Gregory appear on "Meet the Press" at NBC studios today.Gov. Chris Christie has repeatedly slammed the door on speculation he’s a presidential contender for 2012, but in an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press" today, he left open the possibility of a run in 2016.
Christie said he would first have to decide whether to seek re-election as governor in 2013 before weighing any other political aspirations.
"And that’s going to be determined by how good a job I do and whether the people of the state of New Jersey want me back," he told moderator David Gregory.
Last week, Christie said nothing "short of suicide" would convince people he will not run for president in two years.
Gregory asked if it’s fair to say the door was open for a presidential run after Christie’s first term as governor is up in 2013.
"I’m going to need a job ... after 2013, you know?" said Christie, 48. "So whether it’s going to be being governor of New Jersey or doing something else, it’s going to be doing something. So maybe it will be that. Who knows?"
Using the hard-charging style that had made him a YouTube celebrity, Christie recently finished a 15-state, 20,000-mile nationwide tour on behalf of Republican gubernatorial and congressional candidates and helped raise about $8 million for them.
Some analysts say it was not a coincidence his travels took him to states like California, Pennsylvania and Ohio that would be crucial for a victory in a presidential election.
"Many of them were battleground states, and others are instrumental in the early primaries and caucuses, including Iowa," said Brigid Callahan Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University. "Any denials of interest in the presidency is simply the governor being coy."
Christie’s reference to the 2016 election will allow him to maintain a national profile, but not provide critics with an opportunity to say he’s ignoring local issues in New Jersey, Harrison said.
Others noted Christie’s future national reputation will depend chiefly on whether he can continue to deliver legislative successes at home.
"Christie’s got it right; he’s got to show he can do something in New Jersey," said Ingrid Reed, a policy analyst who recently retired from the Eagleton Institute of Politics. "His abilities to communicate well will only serve him ... if he can keep up the momentum on issues facing most states and the nation, like the loss of jobs and the difficult fiscal circumstances."
Experts said Christie faces a difficult year ahead, with a number of policy battles looming on the state budget and local public employee costs.
"The Democratic leadership (in the Legislature) is a bit more savvy to his style and strategy, and it will be more acrimonious than the last year, in my view," Harrison said.
During his interview today, NBC’s Gregory said Christie’s campaign travels had the earmarks of "a guy who’s increasing your national influence."
Christie denied any ulterior motives.
"Because I care about my country and felt like those people were the absolute best candidates to make my country a better place ... That’s why I campaigned for them," he said. "I have no other agenda."
Christie, who has kept the tea party movement at arm’s length, said the movement had "a positive influence" on last week’s elections because its members’ ideology revolves around less spending and smaller government.
But at the same time, he lamented what might have been, citing the failure of the GOP to win a U.S. Senate seat in Delaware. In the primary, Christie had endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Castle, who was heavily favored to win the general election. But Castle lost to tea party-backed candidate Christine O’Donnell, who was trounced in the general election by Democrat Chris Coons.
"I think Delaware was a missed opportunity to have a really good senator in Mike Castle," he said.