>>> IS CHRIS CHRISTIE FOR REAL
WE'LL DISCUSS THE GOVERNOR'S
CHANCES NOW THAT HE'S OFFICIALLY
JUMPED INTO THE RACE FOR
PRESIDENT COMING UP ON
"REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "REPORTER
ROUNDTABLE WITH MICHAEL ARON" IS
PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY
MANUFACTURERS AUTO INSURANCE AND
MORE, WHERE NEW JERSEY BUSINES
AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED B
"NEW JERSEY BUSINESS" MAGAZINE
THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY
BUSINESS AND INDUSTR
ASSOCIATION, REPORTING T
EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES O
THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.
♪♪♪♪
>>> HELLO, WELCOME TO "REPORTERS
ROUNDTABLE."
I'M DAVID CRUZ IN FOR MICHAE
ARON
ONE WEEK AFTER HIS OFFICIA
ANNOUNCEMENT, GOVERNOR CHRISTI
IS BACK ON THE ROAD WITH A
EMPHASIS ON NEW HAMPSHIRE.
WE'LL ASSESS THE STATE OF TH
MASON CAMPAIGN WITH TH
JOURNALIST WHO COVER THE
GOVERNOR
CHARLIE STYLE IS THE COLUMNIST
WITH "THE RECORD."
MATT ARCO IS STATE HOUSE
REPORTER FOR NJ ADVANCED MEDIA
TERRY DOBB FOR BLOOMBERG NEWS,
AND MELISSA HAYES COVERS THE
GOVERNOR FOR "THE RECORD."
ANALYSTS, WELCOME.
SO EVERYBODY'S GOT TIES ON
YOU'RE THROWING ME OFF A BIT
MELISSA, THANK YOU FOR NOT
WEARING A TIE.
SURPRISING ABSOLUTELY NO ONE
THE GOVERNOR MADE HI
ANNOUNCEMENT LAST WEEK
LET'S ASSESS HOW WE DI
ANNOUNCING
CHARLIE?
>> I THOUGHT HE WAS PRETTY GOOD.
YOU KNOW, HE HAD HIS -- YO
KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF TAL
ABOUT HOW HE DIDN'T SPEAK FROM A
TELEPROMPTER FROM THE NATIONAL
PRESS.
HE'S NEVER SPOKEN FROM A
TELEPROMPTER
AND I THOUGHT HE BUILT UP
GOODCATED -- GOOD CADENCE,
CRESCENDO.
GOT THE MAIN POINT OUT
FRANKLY, IT WAS SPIN, BUT WHAT'S
A POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT, WHAT'S
A MARKETING MOMENT LIKE THAT
WITHOUT A LOT OF SPIN?
>> RIGHT
IT'S GOT TO BE MOSTLY SPIN
RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
HE'S SELLING THE PRODUCT AND
BRAND OF CHRIS CHRISTIE AS A
TRUTH-TELLER
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE TH
ENDANGERED SPECIES THAT -- THE
NICHE AND PLATFORM HE'
OPERATING FROM
AS CHRIS CHRISTIE'S ALWAYS DONE,
HE'S LED FROM THE CHIN, PUT IT
OUT THERE.
I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE
LOT OF EXAMINATION ABOUT
MATCHING RHETORIC WITH THE
REALITY AS HE GOES FORWARD
MORE SO PROBABLY TO A DEGREE
THAN OTHER CANDIDATES BECAUSE OF
THAT SLOGAN.
>> DID HE GET IT OUT, MATT, HI
MESSAGE?
>> YEAH.
WELL, I THINK IN TERMS OF -- ONE
THING HE HAS SPOKE FRIEND
TELEPROMPTER IN THE PAST, JUST
DISPLAYED --
>> LESS SUCCESSFULLY, RIGHT?
>> STILL SLAMMING OBAMA FO
USING A TELEPROMPTER
ANOTHER THING ABOUT HIS -- HIS
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THAT IT WAS
KIND OF -- TRIED TO MAKE IT FEEL
LIKE A TOWN HALL MEETING
HE HAD HIS -- EVEN THOEF A
ELEVATED STAGE, IT WAS ELEVATED.
HE WALKED AROUND AND SCANNED THE
ROOM
THAT'S REALLY WHAT HE'S GOOD AT.
YOU KNOW, HE'S USING THAT TO
WORK TO HIS ADVANTAGE.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR
NOT IT WAS -- I THINK CHARLIE'
RIGHT.
HE HAS HAS NATIONAL REPUTATION
FOR BEING THE BRASH GUY.
NOW HE'S IN THE POSITION WHERE
YOU HAVE TO USE THAT, HE HAS T
SPIN THAT AS AN ASSET.
YOU KNOW, HE'S BOXED IN A CORNER
IN THAT WAY.
HE HAS NO OTHER CHOICE WHEN IT
COMES TO WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO
AND BRING HIS MESSAGE OUT IN THE
ROOM
>> SURE.
HE'S CONFIDENT, HE'S GOING WIT
THE FIRST AD FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE
IT'S A CUT-UP OF THE
ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH.
>> YES
>> HE'S CONFIDENT, AND HE FELT
LIKE THAT CAME ACROSS THE WAY HE
WANTED IT TO COME ACROSS
>> YEAH.
I DEFINITELY THINK SO.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING
TO SAY THE AD, TOO, ACTUALLY
THAT AD, YOU KIND OF WATCHED HIM
SAYING IT, AND YOU THOUGHT LIK
THIS IS GOING TO PLAY FURTHE
DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS GOING TO BECOME PART O
THE CAMPAIGN
BUT LIKE AS CHARLIE WAS SAYING
TELL IT LIKE IT IS THEME
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THEM, THE
WERE TRYING TO PUSH THAT EVE
BEFORE HE DECLARED
THEY WERE USING IT FOR THE TOW
HALLS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
HE PUT ON ALL THE POLICY
ADDRESSES.
HE'S TRYING TO BE THE CANDIDAT
OUT THERE ON THE ISSUES TELLIN
PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW.
I THINK THAT ALL OF THIS IS PART
OF THAT.
NOT JUST THE ANNOUNCEMENT BU
ALSO THE POLICY SPEECHES HE'
DOING, TOO
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TV AD,
THAT'S A PERFECT CUE
LET'S LOOK AT THAT AD NOW.
>> LEADERSHIP MATTERS.
IT MATTERS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AN
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP MATTERS FO
THE WORLD.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO LEAD, WE
HAVE TO STOP WORRYING ABOU
BEING LOVED AND START CARING
ABOUT BEING RESPECTED AGAIN.
I AM NOT LOOKING TO BE THE MOS
POPULAR GUY WHO LOOKS IN YOU
EYES EVERY DAY AND TRIES T
FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT T
HEAR
SAY IT, AND THEN TURN AROUND AND
DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I MEAN WHAT I SAY, AND I SAY
WHAT I MEAN.
AND THAT'S WHAT AMERICA NEED
RIGHT NOW.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> I'M CHRIS CHRISTIE, AND I
APPROVED THIS MESSAGE.
>> I MEAN WHAT I SAY, AND I SA
WHAT I MEAN.
HE SOUND LIKE HE'S TRYING TO
COME ACROSS AS THIS TOUGH GU
FOR YOU.
YEAH
>> YEAH.
>> YES
YEAH
>> I MEAN, THE THING I WAS -
THAT STRUCK ME TODAY LISTENING
TO THE AD EARLIER TODAY WAS THAT
I MEAN IN A SENSE, I'M NOT HER
TO BE THE MOST POPULAR GUY
ISN'T THAT WHAT AN ELECTION IS
>> THERE IS THE MOM STORY.
I EXPECTED THERE TO BE MORE MO
STORIES IN THE ANNOUNCEMEN
EVENT.
THERE WEREN'T THAT MANY MO
STORIES.
THAT WHOLE LINE OF YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE LOVED, YOU WANT TO BE
RESPECTED, THAT'S A STORY WE'V
HEARD HIM TELL TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
A STORY OF HIS MOM GIVING HI
ADVICE FOR WOMEN
HE TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S
APPLICABLE TO POLITICS
HE'S SAID IT ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL A COUPLE TIMES
>> HE'S USING THAT STORY, WE'V
ALL FOLLOWED THE GOVERNOR, JUS
HOURS AFTER THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HE
LANDED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND DI
A FIVE-DAY TOUR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
AND GAVE THAT SORT OF LIKE HIS
MOM'S DEATHBED DISCUSSION WITH
HIS MOM.
EVERY SINGLE STOP HE HAD ON TH
CAMPAIGN TRAIL UP THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> SO THE -- WHAT THEY'RE TRYING
TO DO NOW IS, OKAY, WE'R
ROLLING THIS OUT
WE'RE GOING TO USE WHAT WE THINK
WE NEED TO USE FOR OUR VOD
BUT THEN GO -- OUR ADVANTAGE
BUT THEN GO TO PLACES WHER
PEOPLE PROBABLY ONLY SAW THE
GOVERNOR TELEVISION.
SAW MORE OF HIS OUTBURSTS AN
THINGS BUT SAY, OKAY, THIS I
THE SOFTER SIDE OF CHRIS
CHRISTIE, THIS IS WHERE I GET IT
FROM
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHO I A
WITHOUT LETTING THE MEDIA KIND
OF PORTRAY ME AS A CERTAIN
PERSON
>> I THINK YOU WERE TOUCHING O
AT THE BEGINNING
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S
TRYING TO SHOW IS THIS -- THIS
KIND OF AGGRESSIVE POSTURE
AND UNFLINCHING POSTURE IS NOT
REALLY A SIGN OF ME BEING
BULLY.
I'M DOING IT, I'M ACTUALLY
CHANNELING A KIND OF OUTRAGE O
YOUR BEHALF.
AND I'M HERE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR
INTERESTS.
AND THAT'S -- AND THAT'S THE
WELLSPRING OF THIS AGGRESSION.
AND SOMETIME ANGER AND SOMETIMES
THIS -- NOT PRETTY CHRIS
CHRISTIE THAT YOU'VE HEARD
ABOUT.
>> LOOK HOW EFFECTIVE IT WAS -
A GOOD POINT
LOOK HOW EFFECTIVE WAS AFTER
HURRICANE SANDY.
CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS THE SYMBOL OF
THE TRI-STATE AREA'S RECOVERY.
IT WAS BECAUSE -- TALK T
ANYBODY WHO LIVED IN NEW JERSEY.
EVERYBODY FELT LIKE CHRI
CHRISTIE WAS FIGHTING FOR THEM
HE'D BE ON THE NEWS SAYING, OH
YOUR POWER ISN'T ON?
I'M GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
WITH THE GOOD PEOPLE AT PSE&G.
>> RIGHT
>> WHEN THEY HEAR FROM ME --
>> RIGHT
>> IT WAS REALLY EFFECTIVE
>> AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF
HE'S TRYING TO RECAPTUREA -- YOU
REMEMBER THE EARLY DAYS WHETHE
CHRIS CHRISTIE CAME TO OFFICE,
HE HAD PROSECUTORS ON HIS SIDE
LONG-TIME ACQUAINTANCES.
THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE
WERE RECOGNIZING A PROBLEM I
GOVERNMENT AND WERE GOING TO
PROSECUTE THAT PROBLEM
YOU GOT TO WONDER IF HE'S TRYING
TO TAKE THAT OUT OF STEP AND B
-- OKAY, IF I GO TO WASHINGTON
THIS IS WHO I'M GOING TO BE,
THIS IS HOW I'M GOING ATTACK
GOVERNMENT OR APPROACH
GOVERNMENT
YOU GOT TO WONDER IF HE'S TRYING
TO RECAPTURE THAT.
>> UNTOUCHABLE
ELLIOTT NESS AND THE
UNTOUCHABLES FROM NEWARK GOING
TO COME DOWN
WE'VE LEARNED THAT MODEL WASN'
NECESSARILY --
>> DIDN'T TRANSLATE WELL TO TH
STATE HOUSE.
>> YEAH.
>> DIDN'T KNOW HOUSE TO BE A
POLITICIAN
>> PEOPLE WERE NOTICING HE HAD A
BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE CALLED THE PLUMBER
PRIMARY.
EVERY CANDIDATE GOES BEFOR
RENEE PLUMMER AND THE SEA COAS
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
PEOPLE WERE LIKE -- THEY WER
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED, I CA
QUOTE, "PLEASANTLY SURPRISED,"
WHAT THEY SAID, AFTER CHRISTIE
WAS TALKING.
HE WAS SOFT SPOKEN, HE EXPLAINED
THINGS, TALKED ABOUT HOW H
WORKED TO WIN THE LATINO VOTE.
HE EMBRACED THEM AND WORKED TO
REBUILD SUPPORT AFTER>> WENDY:
IT -- AFTER 2009 AND SAID, WOW
HE'S TRYING TO COMBAT THE IMAG
THAT'S OUT THERE
>> HE TOOK THAT WEEK, AS YOU
SAID, IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER H
MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AN
PREVIEW.
YOU WERE THERE
LET'S START WITH YOU
IMPRESSION
OBVIOUSLY HE IMPRESSED SOM
PEOPLE
>> HE DID.
HE IMPRESSED PEOPLE.
BUT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, PEOPLE
DON'T MAKE UP THEIR MIND
I THINK OF ALL THE PEOPLE
TALKED TO, AND THERE WER
DOZENS
ONE GUY TOLD ME HE WAS VOTIN
FOR CHRIS CHRISTIE
EVERYONE ELSE SAID I DON'T KNOW,
IT'S EARLY
EVEN THE WOMAN WHO WAS
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BY CHRISTIE
AND LIKED WHAT HE HAD TO SAY
SHE WAS STILL LEANING TOWARD
CARLY FIORINA.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND
WILL HAVE TO SPEND TIME THERE TO
WIN OVER THE SUPPORT
>> GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND TIME
THERE -- I DON'T THINK THAT'
LOST ON HIM.
THERE'S BEEN STORIES ABOUT IT,
AND IT'S TRUE THAT HE'S GOING TO
BE FOCUSING ON HIS LARGEST ASSET
WHICH IS HOSTING THESE TOWN HALL
MEETINGS, THAT HE CAN GO AND
STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROO
FOR AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF
TAKE ANY QUESTION, WHICH ALL
TEND TO BE REALLY THE SAME
QUESTION OVER AND OVER
A VARIETY OF LIKE THE SAME DOZEN
QUESTIONS MAYBE.
HE'S TAKING THE QUESTIONS.
AND HE'S -- ALL OFF THE CUFF
WHAT HE'S BEST AT.
AND THEN HE HAS A CHANCE TO --
BY THE WAY, THE PEOPLE COMING TO
THE MEETINGS ARE THE ONES MOST
ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOIN
TO VOTE, ARE GOING TO BE TALKING
TO THEIR FRIENDS WHO WILL VOTE
TOO.
SO HE'S THERE, HE'S TAKING THE
QUESTIONS, THEY ARE -- THEY'RE
SEEING A DIFFERENT SIDE OF CHRIS
CHRISTIE THAN THEY SEE IN TH
MEDIA WHEN HE MAKE NATIONA
HEADLINES AND TELLING THEM, HEY,
THIS IS WHERE I COME FROM.
THIS IS MY MOM, THIS IS WHERE
GET IT FROM.
IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS ABOU
SPINNING THOSE FOR A POSITIVE.
WHY WOULDN'T WE EXPECT HIM TO BE
DOING THAT
HE IS GOOD AT IT
NOW THE ONLY -- THE CAVEAT WIT
THAT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THA
WHILE, YES, PEOPLE DON'T MAKE UP
THEIR MINDS, RIGHT NOW WHERE H
IS IN THE POLLS IN TERMS OF TH
HIGH UNFAVORABILITY OF CHRIS
CHRISTIE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
NOW, MAYBE SPENDING ENOUGH TIM
THERE, HE CAN WORK A
DIMINISHING THAT
BUT THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM
>> HE'S ALSO GOT ANOTHER PROBLEM
IN THAT -- ANOTHER INITIAL THA
HE GOES TO TOWN HALLS, AND H
GOES TO THE EVENTS AND DINER
STOPS.
GENERALLY, AS EVERYONE SAID, THE
PEOPLE ARE -- WOW, CHRIS
CHRISTIE'S SO MUCH MORE MEASURED
AND CALMER THAN I THOUGHT.
BUT IN A NORMAL PRIMARY, H
WOULD NEED TO GO UP TO NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND APPEAL TO THE NE
HAMPSHIRE VOTER AND WIN TH
PRIMARY.
THERE'S NOT A NORMAL PRIMARY
BECAUSE OF THE DEBATE RULES.
HE'S GOT TO FOCUS ON RUNNING
SORT OF FOR ALL INTENTS AN
PURPOSES A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
>> RIGHT
>> FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE GOING T
NEW HAMPSHIRE, HE NEEDS TO D
THAT TO WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IN TERMS OF GETTING THE DEBATE
HE NEEDS TO BROADEN THAT APPEA
EVEN BEYOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
>> IT'S ALSO -- WE'RE SEEING
THIS IS LIKE WATCHING TH
OLYMPICS
YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE SKATING
COMPETITION, THE FIRST ONE COMES
OUT AND WOWS EVERYBODY
YOU THINK DOUBLE AXLE, WHATEVE
THEY DID UP IN THE AIR
THEY GET THIS HIGH SCORE AND YOU
THINK, WOW, THAT PERSON'S GOIN
TO WIN
BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE REST O
THE COMPETITORS.
AND THE SAME IS TRUE
WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN JEB BUS
AND RUBIO.
WALKER HASN'T EVEN ENTERED THE
RACE
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM ENGAGE AN
MAKE THEIR CASE YET.
I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHA
YOU'RE ALLUDING TO
HE'S GOING TO -- THAT CHRI
CHRISTIE MESSAGE IS GOING TO GET
SORT OF LOST OR HAVE TO STAN
OUT IN THE BROADER SHUFFLE ONC
IT'S UP THERE.
AND WE'VE HEARD THIS ANALOGY
McCAIN IN '08 -- McCAIN DIDN'T
HAVE THAT MUCH COMPETITION
>> RIGHT
>> GOING INTO THAT RACE.
CHRISTIE'S GOING TO HAVE, YO
KNOW, A BLEACHER FULL OF
COMPETITION.
>> THE INTERESTING THING WAS YOU
WERE -- AT THE PRIMARY A COUPL
WEEK BEFORE CHRIS CHRISTIE,
HAD COVERED JEB BUSH AT TH
PLUMMER PRIMARY.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE TH
TWO DIFFERENT TACKS THEY'R
TAKING
WHEN CHRISTIE WENT UP, IT WA
VERY MUCH MORE PERSONAL, HUMBLE,
SORT OF I'M CHRIS CHRISTIE, YO
KNOW, I THINK HE MONTHED TO GE
THROUGH IT AND I DON'T THINK -
HE MANAGED TO GET THROUGH, AND I
DON'T THINK BRIDGEGATE CAME UP
ONE.
>> PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED
>> HIS WARM SIDE AND HOW PEOPL
PERSONALLY CONNECT WITH HIM.
>> RIGHT
>> DID IN FACT COME THROUGH.
JEB BUSH CAME ACROSS AS VERY
ENTHUSIASTIC, VERY SPECIFIC AN
A LITTLE BIT MORE -- THOUGHT TWO
CAMPAIGN STYLES.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S LOOKING A
HEADING TO NEW HAMPSHIRE
>> CHRISTIE IS FOCUSING ON NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND THEY HAVE TO G
AFTER HIM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND
TAKING AWAY FROM CHRISTIE MEAN
VOTES FOR HIM OR SOMEONE IN TH
FIELD.
THERE ARE SO MANY IN THE FIELD
THAT IF THEY CAN SPREAD THEM OUT
IT MAY HELP IN THE LONG RUN.
>> RIGHT
SO HOW DOES THAT WORK?
LET'S TALK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP,
OKAY
ASIDE FROM WHAT HE'S BEEN DOIN
TO HIMSELF AND HIS REPUTATIO
AND SO ON, HE'S KIND OF --
KEEPING HIM IN THE RACE HELP
FOR SOME GUYS, DOESN'T IT?
>> I GUESS IT DOES BECAUSE THE
CAN -- THEY CAN --
>> IF HE CAN OUTRAGEOUS CHRI
CHRISTIE -
>> YOUR POINT IS THEY GET TO
LOOK MORE MODERATE AND RATIONA
IN COMPARISON.
THAT'S GOOD.
I STILL THINK HE REPRESENTS
LARGER MACRO THREAT TO THE
REPUBLICAN BRAND
>> HE'S NOT A POSITIVE IMAGE -
>> FOR ANYBODY
>> AND ALSO HE CAN KNOCK
SOMEBODY OUT OF THE PRIMARY.
NOT THE PRIMARY -- DEBATE.
>> YEAH.
>> HE'S POLLING HIGH BECAUSE O
HIS NAME RECOGNITION
I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN TO CHRISTIE.
HIS NUMBERS MAY GO UP BECAUS
TRUMP AND BUSH GOT BUMPED.
TRUMP GOT A HUGE BUMP AFTER HE
ANNOUNCED.
ONCE YOU LOOK AT THE SERIOUS NOT
-- AT THE SAME TIME, HE CA
KNOCK SOMEBODY OUT OF TH
DEBATES BY ONLY HAVING TEN
PEOPLE
>> IT PROBABLY PUSHED CHRI
CHRISTIE DOWN A NOTCH.
I THINK --
>> YEAH.
>> CHRIS CHRISTIE CAN'T AFFORD
TO GO DOWN A NOTCH
>> NO.
>> DOWN --
>> THE ONLY THING ABOUT -- W
TALKING ABOUT THE AUGUST 6th
DEBATE
A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE DEBATE
THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THE
AVERAGE OF -- THEY HAVEN'T BEE
CLEAR ON THIS WHICH IS
INTERESTING.
WE DON'T KNOW WHICH POLLS WILL
BE TAKING THE AVERAGE OF -
>> NATIONAL --
>> NAY HAVEN'T DISCUSSED WHICH
POLLS THEY'RE GOING TO -
>> RIGHT
>> YOU DON'T KNOW.
WHAT MELISSA SAID IS THAT ON
AVERAGE, DONALD TRUMP WAS -- I
THINK CHRIS CHRISTIE A FEW WEEKS
AGO WAS AT NUMBER EIGHT, AND
THEN DONALD TRUMP OF BEHIND HI
NOW.
CHRISTIE IS AT -
>> TRUMP'S NUMBER TWO OR THREE
--
>> DEPENDING WHICH POLLS YOU
LOOK AT, NINE OR TEN
AND THERE'S A COUPLE O
LEGITIMATE FOLK THAT ARE -- IN
THAT 11, 12, 13 PERIOD LIK
KASICH -- HE'S GOING TO BE
HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE WHERE
YOU HAVE FOLK THAT WE EXPECT T
JUMP IN IN THE NEXT COUPLE O
WEEKS.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN CASEY'
JUMPING IN -- TWO WEEKS.
WALKER, WALKER'S PULLING AHEAD
ALREADY.
THE PEOPLE IN THE -- THE 11, 12,
13 -
>> AND THERE'S A DECLARE
CANDIDATE --
>> THE GOVERNOR -- IF TRUMP WA
POTENTIALLY DOING DAMAGE TO TH
REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE SAID NO
IF TRUMP IS HURTING CHRISTIE
SHOULDN'T CHRISTIE START GOING
AT TRUMP
>> CHRISTIE'S FRIENDS WITH
TRUMP.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S A COMPLICATED
ISSUE FOR HIM.
HE TALKED --
>> CHRISTIE WAS FRIENDS WITH JOE
CARRILLO, TOO.
>> HE WAS.
CHRISTIE TALKS ABOUT BEING
FRIENDS WITH TRUMP AND TALKS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE AND MAR
PAT HAVE GONE OUT TO DINNER WITH
TRUMP AND HIS WIFE
YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER, TOO, MAYBE
CHRISTIE'S HOPING THAT IF HE
DOES BETTER THAN TRUMP, TRUM
WILL THROW MONEY TO HIM, WHO
KNOWS WHEN HE'S THINKING
FOR SOME REASON HE'S WALKING A
VERY -- I DON'T KNOW
HE'S WALKING A VERY -- I'M
TALKING DOWN THE ROAD.
>> HE'S GOT A FINE LINE TO WALK.
>> HE'S WALKING A VERY FINE LINE
WITH TRUMP, MUCH MORE THAN WIT
OTHER PEOPLE
HE'S TAKEN -- HE'S CLOSE WIT
THE BUSH FAMILY.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY HE'
WALKING A FINE LINE WITH TRUMP
>> HE CITES THE FRIENDS.
TRUMP DOESN'T TAKE KINDLY TO
ANYBODY THAT ATTACK HIM.
THE LAST THING HE WANTS IS
DONALD TRUMP GOING AFTER HIM
INTO A FREAK SHOW ON THE DEBAT
STAGE.
ALSO, DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTS,
FACE IT, A CONSTITUENCY IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY
WHERE ARE THE POLL NUMBERS
COMING FROM, AND CHRIS CHRISTI
NEEDS -- CAN'T REALLY AFFORD T
ENFLAME OR ALIENATE THEM EITHER.
>> OUTSIDE OF HIS PARTY --
>> HE HAS TO STROKE DONALD
TRUMP'S HAIR A LITTLE.
>> IT KICKER IS, OKAY --
>> A FUNNY IDEA OF HIM STROKIN
DONALD TRUMP'S HAIR.
>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, CHRI
CHRISTIE WANTS TO THINK OF
HIMSELF AS THE TOP TIE
CANDIDATE.
HE'S GOING TO GO AFTER PEOPL
LIKE BUSH, WALKER.
WE HAVE SEEN HIM TAKE SHOTS AT
HUCKABEE, CERTAINLY RAND PAUL.
>> I THINK HE LIKES TO BEAT UP
RAND PAUL A LITTLE BIT
>> HE'S STANDING ON ONE OF HIS
STRONG SUITS, I WAS A U.S.
ATTORNEY
I'VE USED AREAS OF THE PATRIOT
ACT.
>> HE DOESN'T THINK HE'S GOING
TO GET -- I DON'T THINK HE'S
BANKING ON GETTING RAND PAUL
VOTERS -
>> THAT LINE IS CLEAR.
AND RAND PAUL IS CRYSTAL CLEAR
HIS NEW LINE, AS YOU'VE SEEN
I'M THE ONLY REPUBLICAN UP HER
WITH NATIONAL SECURITY
CREDENTIALS.
>> RIGHT
>> THAT'S A VERY BIG THING T
SAY.
>> WE'VE HEARD THE STORY MAN
TIMES NOW --
>> NONE OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE I
-- RAND PAUL IS THE EXAC
OPPOSITE OF THAT
AND SO OBVIOUSLY THERE'S -
THERE'S GOING TO BE A PLAY THA
CHRISTIE CAN PLAY OFF.
WITH TRUMP, HE'S GOT NOTHING -
NORTHEAST REPUBLICAN, YOU KNOW
WHAT I MEAN?
AND ATTACKING HIM IS SORT OF CAN
DO NOTHING BUT HURT HIM.
>> THE HYPOCRISY WITH CHRISTIE
THOUGH, HE'S OUT THERE IN TH
CHURCH UP IN ESEX COUNTY
HE'S ON THE WEB PREACHING ABOU
THE NECESSITY OF SPEAKIN
CANDIDLY AND OPENLY AN
FORCEFULLY ABOUT RACE IN AMERICA
AND HATE SPEECH.
AND HERE YOU HAVE THIS -- THIS
BLATANTLY RACIST, NATIVIST TRUMP
TALKING, YOU KNOW, PANDERING T
THE WORST ELEMENT.
WHAT DOES HE SAY
HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM
I THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE -
>> SO YOU ASKED HIM -- ONE O
THE PRESS CONFERENCES, AND H
BLEW IT OFF.
>> HE SHOULD HAVE -- THIS IS -
I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO
SHOW DECISIVE, BOLD LEADERSHIP
SAY DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T BELON
IN OUR PARTY
>> ALL THIS DISCUSS ABOU
CHRISTIE, OF COURSE, CENTERS O
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND IOWA AND
EVERYWHERE ELSE.
MEANWHILE, HE'S STILL TH
GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY, AND IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE ASKED HIM -- I
THINK TERRY ASKED HIM -- ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT, WHAT HIS
SCHEDULE MIGHT BE AND HOW MUCH
OF NEW JERSEY WAS GOING TO B
PART OF HIS SCHEDULE
LET'S HEAR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
>> FIRST PRIORITY IS TO SPEND AS
MUCH TIME IN NEW JERSEY AS I
ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO TO BE ABLE TO
DO MY JOB THE RIGHT WAY.
AS YOU KNOW, TERRY, THE SUMMER
IS A PRETTY SLOW TIME IN NEW
JERSEY
I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL BE
BUT IF IT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, WE'LL
DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THAT'S MY FIRST JOB AS BEING
GOVERNOR
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY PLAN IN
TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, PLOTTING OUT
MY DAYS ALREADY.
MY SCHEDULE IS SET FOR NEX
WEEK
AND THEN LATER TODAY I'M GOING
TO START TO SET MY SCHEDULE FO
REST OF JULY
BUT WE WANTED TO GET THROUGH
THIS FIRST BIG TRIP FIRST.
THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH THE REST OF
MY SCHEDULE FOR JULY AND PEEK AT
AUGUST, TOO.
MY FIRST PRIORITY IS BEING
GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY
SO WHATEVER TIME I NEED TO SPEND
THERE, I WILL.
YOU SAW YESTERDAY, THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAS ALWAYS
FILLED IN ABLY FOR ME.
SHE WORKED YESTERDAY WITH FOLK
FROM SOUTH JERSEY TO HELP THEM
UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE'R
DOING, TO HELP THEM RECOVER FROM
THE STORM THAT THEY SUFFERED A
WEEK OR SO AGO
AND ALL THE REACTION THAT
HEARD FROM STAFF AND READ FROM
SOME OF THE COVERAGE WAS THA
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNO
EXPLAINED REALLY WELL.
PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF FUN, YO
KNOW, TRYING TO SAY WHAT'S THE
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DO AND ALL
THAT
THE FACT IS THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR'S BEEN INVOLVED WIT
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO HER ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO
HANDLE SOME OF THE THINGS WHIL
I'M GONE, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
AND WE COMMUNICATE ON A REGULA
BASIS.
SO I'LL SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS
NEED TO.
IN THE END, AS I SAID MANY TIMES
BEFORE, I CAN WALK AND CHEW GU
AT THE SAME TIME
I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> AS MUCH TIME AS I NEED TO
HE GOT BEAT UP THIS PAST WEE
OVER HIS REACTION TO THE STORM
IN SOUTH JERSEY.
I MEAN, HOW MUCH DOES HE EVE
CARE ABOUT NEW JERSEY --
>> THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKIN
ABOUT.
ADDRESSING THE STORM
IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT
HE -- EVEN BEFORE HE LEFT, H
WASN'T DOWN THERE DOING ANYTHING
AFTER HE WAS SO IN PERSO
EVERYWHERE AFTER SANDY
IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT
YOU KNOW, THE BIGGER ISSUE I
THINK, TOO, IS WHEN HE'S NOT I
THE STATE, WE'RE STILL PAYIN
FOR IT
THERE ARE STATE TROOPERS THA
FOLLOW HIM
THE TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING FOR
WHETHER HE'S ON STATE BUSINESS
OR POLITICAL BUSINESS.
IT'S COSTING TAXPAYERS THAT HE'S
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
>> HE SAYS THAT THEY COME NO
MATTER WHAT.
>> RIGHT
>> WHEN HE WANTS THEM TO OR NOT.
>> WE KNOW IN WISCONSIN, SCOTT
WALKER'S POLITICAL TEAM HAS BEEN
PICKING UP THE TAB FOR THAT.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE DOING -
TREATING THIS DIFFERENTLY AN
NOT HAVING THE TAXPAYERS FOO
THE BILL
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF TH
YEAR ALONE WAS $185,000.
I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH
HIGHER NOW THAT HE'S TRAVELING
SO MUCH.
>> MAKING HIM MORE POPULAR WIT
THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY
>> SOME MEMBERS NOT --
>> SUGGESTING OTHERWISE?
>> I WANT TO GET TO THIS BEFOR
WE END THE SHOW.
TOM MORAN AT "THE STAR LEDGER"
DID THIS PIECE ABOUT CHRISTI
HAVING TO CONTAIN THIS INNER
BEAST.
AND SO I WANT TO PLAY THIS CLI
OF AN INTERACTION THAT THE
GOVERNOR HAD WITH THIS COUPLE IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
AND GET YOU ALL TO REACT
>> EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.
>> YOU'RE NOT INTERRUPTING
NOT AT ALL
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> VERY RUDE, VERY RUDE --
[ BLEEP
>> SO THE REASON WE'RE CHUCKLING
IS BECAUSE YOU FOLKS AT HOME
WILL HEAR A BLEEP, BUT WE HEAR
WHAT THE WOMAN CALLED HIM.
BUT THIS IS AFTERNOON -- I GUESS
THIS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT HE WAS
TALKING ABOUT.
HE WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THA
INNER BEAST AND NOT PUNCH THAT
GUY IN THE NOSE.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE A SMALL
CHANCE -- I MEAN, I THIN
THERE'S GOING TO BE A VERY SMALL
CHANCE THAT CHRIS CHRISTIE I
GOING TO GO ON ANY TIRADE.
LOOK, WE'RE IN THE PART NO
WHERE PEOPLE START TO ASK --
IT'S EARLY, BUT SOON VOTER
ACROSS THE NATION SCHOOL
THEMSELVES IS DOES THAT MAN OR
WOMAN LOOK PRESIDENTIAL.
AND ANY OF THE OLD CLIPS WE SA
WITH THE ICE CREAM CONE ON THE
BOARDWALK, I DON'T KNOW THAT
THAT PLAYS WELL.
GREAT FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT PLAYS WELL,
GREAT FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
AS WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING TH
GOVERNOR ON THE ROAD, HE'S A LOT
MORE TEMPERED.
THAT'S PART OF ALSO SORT OF JUST
REINTRODUCING HIMSELF TO PEOPLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FORGET WHAT YOU SEE IN TH
MEDIA.
THIS IS THE REAL ME --
>> THERE'S SOMETHING -
>> I'M NOT SO SURE -- EVERYONE
HAS THIS, YOU KNOW, IMAGE OF
CHRIS CHRISTIE, THIS GUY WHO
JUST BLOWS
I THINK ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY HA
FOLLOWED HIM FOR YEARS CAN SEE
THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN
ACT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT -- NOT A
ACT, NOW I'M SAYING THAT IT'
NOT GENUINE.
BUT HE CAN CONTROL IT --
>> HE CAN CONTROL IT
>> HE CONTROLS HIS EMOTION NOW
HOW HE REACTS.
>> I THINK I'VE SEEN A LOT O
TIMES WHERE HE HAS FEIGNED ANGER
AND THEN YOU LOOK AT HIM --
NEEDED TO BE THERE
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> HE IS DEFINITELY HOLDING BACK
IN AREAS
I REMEMBER IT WAS THE NEW JERSEY
PRESS CONFERENCE
ONE OF THE VERY FEW PRES
CONFERENCES HE HELD IN NEW
JERSEY THIS YEAR
IT WAS WHEN -- THERE WER
PROTESTERS OUT IN NEW BRUNSWIC
SHOUTING AT HIM THE ENTIRE TIME.
THE OLD CHRISTIE KROIF I DON'T
THINK WOULD HAVE -- HE WOULD
HAVE HAD SOMETHING MORE TO SAY
>> RIGHT
>> NOT ALWAYS EXPLOSIONS, IT'S
THE PEEVISHNESS, AN IRRITABLIT
AND THE MID-RANGE THAT DOESN'T
LOOK PRESIDENTIAL.
I DO THINK HE IS -- HE IS ON HIS
BEST BEHAVIOR.
>> I'LL TELL YOU, TOO, ONE LAS
THING.
THE IDEA AND QUESTIONS THAT WE
ASKED HIM WHEN HE WAS ON THE
ROAD, YOU KNOW, COVERING HIM FOR
THREE YEARS.
THE QUESTION THAT I MIGHT AS
HIM NOW GETS A DIFFERENT
RESPONSE THAN I KNOW IT WOUL
HAVE 2, 2.5, 3 YEARS AGO
>> MORE INTERESTING --
ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTIN
THINGS I'VE OBSERVED UP THERE IS
HOW HE'S KIND OF TALKING ABOUT
YOU KNOW, LIFE IN THE WHIT
HOUSE LIKE HE'S ALREAD
PROJECTING HIMSELF AS IN A
PRESIDENTIAL GARB, HOW I'M GOING
TO MOVE MY FAMILY DOWN AND GIV
M & Ms TO THERE KID.
CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS O
THE AIR FORCE ONE.
I THINK IT'S PART OF THE
IMAGERY.
>> ALL RIGHT
WE'LL LEAVE IT ON THAT NOTE.
THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FO
"REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE" THI
WEEK
I'LL BE HERE AGAIN NEXT WEEK
BE SURE TO CATCH "NJTV NEWS"
EVERY NIGHT.
FOR MICHAEL ARON AND ALL OF US
AT "REPORTERS ROUNDTABLE," I'M
DAVID CRUZ
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
♪♪♪♪
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AND EMPLOYEES.
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