Christie would enrich '12 debate
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during the Perspectives on Leadership Forum at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2011). Credit: AP
The size and scope of the Republican presidential field is back in the spotlight this week, because New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie embarked on a national tour to trumpet his views -- and proclaim he's not seeking national office. It's a curious move, and one causing speculation that he may yet jump into the already crowded race.
If he did, Christie could represent the last piece of the Republican pie to hit the plate. He's a tough, small-government conservative whose politics are more about the use of public money than private mores. Additionally, his recent appointment and ringing defense of a judge who is a Muslim was refreshing, and could facilitate an important conversation within the party about immigration and integration.
A Christie candidacy, with its more centrist appeal, would create a richer give-and-take on the variety of Republican thought -- even more than, say, the entrance of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whose views are already largely represented by Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
And it's about time. What we need to break the gridlock paralyzing Washington is a full-throated debate on the direction the federal government should take, between President Barack Obama, the eventual Republican nominee, and all their assorted allies. Before that, though, the GOP has to agree on the version of its vision it can unite behind, and that's where a big field and a new process of awarding primary delegates could help tremendously.
The other ingredient necessary for a real hashing out of where the Republican Party stands is a longer-than-usual primary campaign. Too often, the race is declared over before voters in 30 or 40 states have been able to cast a ballot, much less see the candidates in their home state.
It's that frontloading of power in the process that has led to the kind of scheduling battles also brewing this week. Florida and Georgia are saying they will move their primaries as early as January, leapfrogging Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, the four earliest states in the process, among others. In response, many of the passed-over states will then move their dates even earlier. It's a silly system, but even threats from the national party to strip delegates from states that put their contests too early don't help. States need the power and media attention of an early contest more than they want delegates to a convention for a nominee who's already been chosen.
But new rules mean that this time, most of the early Republican primaries will award delegates in proportion to the votes for each candidate, rather than winner-take-all. This will stretch out the contest so more states get a say on the candidates and more voters get to hear them. This is a real positive, particularly for a state like New York, whose Republicans haven't had a real say in picking the candidate in decades.
A longer, more thoughtful nominating process, in which all facets of the Republican Party are represented and more states influence the nomination, is the best starting point for the crucial national debate between Republicans and Democrats that will follow.
