It’s not often that Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor of Florida, and Chris Christie, the current Republican governor of New Jersey, are cited for similarities beyond their names. For one thing, Crist, an affable, ideology-challenged sort, left the GOP and ran that lamentable, losing senatorial race as an independent. He’s now hawking for Morgan & Morgan. And Christie, of course, is the take-no-prisoners, budget-cutting wise guy that right-wing Republicans pine for as a presidential candidate.
But a picture, as is said, is worth a thousand words.
Two years ago, it was Crist hugging President Obama over stimulus money for Florida. Arguably, the governor never recovered, as he was pilloried by GOPsters for the literal and metaphorical embrace.
Now we have last month’s photo of Obama and Christie back slapping in Newark, N.J., after touring damage done by Hurricane Irene. But it’s not just the sense of over-the-top camaraderie, even for a good cause, that’s at play.
The picture makes it abundantly evident that Christie is really, really fat. Now, looking like Everyman certainly can be a populist plus, but being a body double for Charlie Weiss surely can’t help. Telegenics can help–or hurt. Just ask Marco Rubio or Newt Gingrich.
Or Chris Christie.
Besides, if Obama defeats Mitt Romney, there won’t be any incumbents in 2016 and Christie, 49, will have had four years to work in a salad.