Gov. Christie heading back on the campaign trail for a series of campaign appearances with presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. There is no doubt that Christie is a star in the Republican party but what does that mean for his political future at home and for the way he governs the state? Alan Rosenthal, Professor of Public Policy at the Edward Bloustein School of Rutgers University, tells NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that Christie is the first governor in his experience to gain a national reputation of the magnitude that he has.
“I mean the closest would be Tom Kean but Tom Kean is no Chris Christie,” said Rosenthal. “He’s got a national reputation that he cobbled together and manages to get things done back in New Jersey.”
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According to Rosenthal, Christie’s national stature has helped his prestige at home, saying “New Jerseyans like the idea that their governor is recognized around the country.” Rosenthal said he was surprised at how long Christie’s personality and style has managed to work in his favor. “I think the heavy hand, the bullying and that sort of stuff would lose currency,” said Rosenthal. “Still, the poll numbers show him increasing in popularity not decreasing and people don’t care. That’s him and they allow him to be himself.”
But it’s not just style over substance, said Rosenthal. “He has managed to compile a record along the way.” But Rosenthal warns that there may be a day of reckoning in the future. “I’m not sure how long this can last — the treating, people particularly Democrats in the legislature, the way he treats most of them. That has some payback attached.”
His opponents may argue that his record of achievement is merely window dressing in light of the budget shortfall and revenue forecasts. But Rosenthal says that any achievement Christie has been able to realize has come with an assist from Democrats because both the governor and the Democratically-controlled legislature had the same goals, namely property tax relief, pension reform and tenure reform.
“So they both came out winners,” he said. “That’s why he was successful and that’s why they could say they were successful.”
Several years ago, Rosenthal was involved in the process legislative redistricting. But the redrawn map didn’t have a negative impact on either party said Rosenthal. “Most of the districts are relatively safe for one party or the other. If there is a real trend or tsunami, then you’ll find real change. But otherwise, I think you’re going to find the majority party, if it’s Democratic and it seems to be that way for the foreseeable future, doing its things. When government is divided like it is now, then it gets interesting.