Would Schweitzer vs Christie flip the map around?

[Yelnoc]

Schweitzer is a folksy candidate in the mold of Bill Clinton while Christie is a straight talking New Jersey type.  If the two are nominated by their respective parties in 2016, will the colors of the map completely flip?  Christie is perceived as rude by a lot of southern Republicans, and the entire south could conceivably flip to Schweitzer, who has the opposite personality.  Meanwhile, I could see Christie way over-performing in the northeast and north against Schweitzer.

What do you guys think?

[HappyWarrior]

No, both areas I think are too hardwired at this point (For the time being at least) for one single candidate to flip like that.  In addition I think alot of Scweitzer's appeal would be alot more effective in the west than the South. 

[Lieutenant Governor Clinton1996]

A Schweitzer vs Christie map in 2016 would probably look like this. Against a northeastern moderate, Schweitzer might be able to put Nebraska's 2nd CD, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, and West Virginia into play. Christie might be able to put Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Maine's CD into play also. Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Iowa, and Nevada would be the swing states as always.
Map With Toss-Ups

Christie-134
Schweitzer-219

Map Without Toss-Ups

Christie-232
Schweitzer-306

Give or take Arizona, Pennsylvania, Maine's CD, Ohio, and Virginia, I think it looks a lot like that.

[a Person]

[A-Bob]

Things wouldn't flip, but Schweitzer would win the west and Christie could play hardball for the GOP in the rust belt. 

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

A-Bob, why do you expect that Christie would over-perform in the Rust Belt?

[A-Bob]

A-Bob, why do you expect that Christie would over-perform in the Rust Belt?

I'm sure by liberal standards he's a social conservative freak, but he is social moderate by today's GOP standards, meanwhile he is attempting to be a successful fiscal conservative (Depending on if his budget collapses next year with a deficit or actually survives with a surplus). His blunt demeanor, tell-it-like-it-is, I think plays well with blue-collar workers and independents as well as unsatisfied democrats. His stump for the last two years has been working with the democrats to cut spending and balance the budget. His New Jersey approval numbers are pretty stellar for New Jersey still suffering economically. Meanwhile I think after a primary fight, social conservatives will possibly be more angry at him than Romney. Compared to other candidates who could compete in the rust-belt, I think Christie has the best, and maybe only, chance to sweep it.

[Mr. Morden]

This would be an interesting race, except that I'm sure I'd get tired of the fat jokes within a few days.

[Nagas]

It could produce an interesting electoral map. Also, people are being too favorable to Schweitzer. He is my 2016 pick, but I'm not blinded by my support to realize that Christie would also have the potential to make some Democratic bastions competitive. Connecticut, Maine, Oregon, and New Jersey (obviously...) could potentially put into play.

Granted, the map is currently polarized, but Schweitzer v Christie could potentially depolarize the map. I suppose a best case scenario would be the following:



BS: 179
CC: 153
Toss: 206

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

The House chooses Christie, and the Senate chooses Gillibrand.

[Cathcon]

It'd be damn interesting and a damn entertaining race. Much better than this year, God-willing.

[Rhodie]

I actually think Christie would have a good chance of carrying MN.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Anything that flips the map would be awesome, but no.

[Senator Snowstalker]

Nah, Minnesota seems like a good Schweitzer state. I do think that Christie could win NJ, though.

[Cathcon]

I'm really hoping for this matchup as it's probably the farthest from "normal" geographically that we'll get in 2016. It'd also be an awesome matchup.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

What's Schweitzer like on social issues?

[Supersonic]

The House chooses Christie, and the Senate chooses Gillibrand.

This is by far the most realistic map. Very little will change if the current voting coalitions remain the same.

[Senator Snowstalker]

What's Schweitzer like on social issues?

Pro-choice. No idea about his same-sex marriage position.

[Emperor SJoyce]

What's Schweitzer like on social issues?

Pro-choice, pro-civil-unions, pro-DP, stricter penalties for drug users, pro-2nd amendment, pro-mandatory sentencing laws, anti-Iraq War.

[Californian Tony]

The era of American politics during which personality and conjunctural factors could flip the map around is long gone. We live in a time when States vote based on ideology. On the most optimistic scenario, a locally popular candidate can hope to flip a couple States (Montana and Missouri for Schweitzer, Minnesota and NJ for Christie), but you'll have to wait decades before seeing NY voting Rep or Texas voting Dem.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

What's Schweitzer like on social issues?

Pro-choice, pro-civil-unions, pro-DP, stricter penalties for drug users, pro-2nd amendment, pro-mandatory sentencing laws, anti-Iraq War.

So pretty much the same as Christie (with the exception of Iraq) then....

[sjkqw]

What's Schweitzer like on social issues?

Pro-choice, pro-civil-unions, pro-DP, stricter penalties for drug users, pro-2nd amendment, pro-mandatory sentencing laws, anti-Iraq War.

So pretty much the same as Christie (with the exception of Iraq) then....

Christie is anti-2nd amendment and I believe has recently become pro-life even though he hadn't been in the past.

[Senator Ben]

This would be fun, but Warner vs. Christie would be far more fun.

[Yelnoc]

This would be fun, but Warner vs. Christie would be far more fun.

Explain.

[SirNick]

This would be fun, but Warner vs. Christie would be far more fun.

Explain.

Warner seems a lot more boring than Christie