If Christie does great in the debates and Bush implodes, can he stage a comeback

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Christie got into the Fox debate at number 9. He was able to answer questions directly at the Voter's first forum and has a colorful personality to say the least.

Assuming that Bush implodes and Christie breakthrough performances in the debates, can he become the comeback kid that Clinton was in 1992?

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

IMO it depends on how Kasich does as well. I believe Kasich would be the next "establishment" frontrunner because Christie still holds a lot of baggage and his negatives are still through the roof.

[Vega]

I'm pretty sure the establishment backup plan in the case of a Bush implosion is <Kasich<Christie<Rubio.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Kasich does seem like a better back up option than Christie.

Would be amazing to see Kasich and Christie get at it during the debate. Kasich's known for having a grumpy demeanor and Christie has been accused of being a bully during confrontations.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Bush will not implode.  That said, he may be so over-familiar to voters that he won't capture enough attention to become the clear front-runner.  Additionally, at least SOME of the candidates will attack Bush 43 and tie him to Jeb.

Christie's just not likeable enough to be a front-runner.  He got caught being a sleazebag in Bridgegate, and while he'll never be indicted and nothing terrible will happen to him, he exposed himself as a Nixonian bully who got caught.  In the back of some people's minds, Christie has proven himself capable of a Watergate II, and that doesn't comfort Republican primary voters who don't want to elect a President who's going to be impeached in his first term.

[dudeabides]

In short, no. Should Jeb Bush implode, Marco Rubio will benefit the most. Ideologically, Bush and Rubio are closest. Christie is running to the left of both of them. Let's remember that while Bush can point to a record of tax cuts, $8 billion in reserves, a credit upgrade, 1.3 million jobs, education reform, Medicaid reform, tort reform etc. Christie's record includes 8 credit downgrades, record corporate welfare, the re-appointment of liberal judges, and expanding Medicaid under Obamacare.

Let's remember here that while debates are important, they aren't everything. President Bush did poorly in two of the three debates he had with John Kerry in 2004, he won re-election anyway. In 2008, Mike Huckabee outperformed John McCain in the primary debates, McCain was still nominated. If Bush implodes, which I doubt, it's because of the tea party - which is maybe 20% of the party.

[Mehmentum]

Christie has a high negative favorability, which is mostly what's dragging him down.  Trump has proven that you can reverse that very quickly.  I think its conceivable that Christie could get a second wind if he can manage to change some people's minds about him.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Christie has a high negative favorability, which is mostly what's dragging him down.  Trump has proven that you can reverse that very quickly.  I think its conceivable that Christie could get a second wind if he can manage to change some people's minds about him.

I have to say, Trump becoming the front runner and maintaining his lead for almost a month now has convinced me that anything is possible in the Republican Primary.

The difference between Trump and Christie is that the RNC chairman would allow Christie to be the nominee, but he wouldn't allow Trump.  

[Kingpoleon]

Kasich does seem like a better back up option than Christie.

Would be amazing to see Kasich and Christie get at it during the debate. Kasich's known for having a grumpy demeanor and Christie has been accused of being a bully during confrontations.

They would be on opposite sides of the stage.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

Kasich does seem like a better back up option than Christie.

Would be amazing to see Kasich and Christie get at it during the debate. Kasich's known for having a grumpy demeanor and Christie has been accused of being a bully during confrontations.

They would be on opposite sides of the stage.

You never know. Christie might try to shout at him.

https://youtu.be/1fqNNAU_VaY?t=42

[andrew_c]

If Bush implodes, most of his support will go to Kasich and Rubio.  Christie would be fighting all the remaining candidates for the scraps of Bush's support.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bush's comments about women's health issues aren't going to help him keep from imploding.  Good for Hillary calling him out on that.  That said, Christie should consider himself very fortunate to get into the debate.  He deserves to be there more than Perry, Jindal, or Santorum, but he's not going to go very far in the primaries.  His negatives far outweigh his positives.

[Kingpoleon]

Kasich does seem like a better back up option than Christie.

Would be amazing to see Kasich and Christie get at it during the debate. Kasich's known for having a grumpy demeanor and Christie has been accused of being a bully during confrontations.

They would be on opposite sides of the stage.

You never know. Christie might try to shout at him.

https://youtu.be/1fqNNAU_VaY?t=42

I'll be getting my popcorn for Thursday.

[Fuzzy Bear]

Bush's comments about women's health issues aren't going to help him keep from imploding.  Good for Hillary calling him out on that.  That said, Christie should consider himself very fortunate to get into the debate.  He deserves to be there more than Perry, Jindal, or Santorum, but he's not going to go very far in the primaries.  His negatives far outweigh his positives.

I'm not sure Jeb really thinks about how what he is saying sounds to his broader audience.

[Türkisblau]

Christie is fat

Rand is high.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Bush's comments about women's health issues aren't going to help him keep from imploding.  Good for Hillary calling him out on that.  That said, Christie should consider himself very fortunate to get into the debate.  He deserves to be there more than Perry, Jindal, or Santorum, but he's not going to go very far in the primaries.  His negatives far outweigh his positives.

I'm not sure Jeb really thinks about how what he is saying sounds to his broader audience.

I'm not sure anybody does, to be perfectly honest.

[Senator Cris]

In short, no. Should Jeb Bush implode, Marco Rubio will benefit the most. Ideologically, Bush and Rubio are closest. Christie is running to the left of both of them. Let's remember that while Bush can point to a record of tax cuts, $8 billion in reserves, a credit upgrade, 1.3 million jobs, education reform, Medicaid reform, tort reform etc. Christie's record includes 8 credit downgrades, record corporate welfare, the re-appointment of liberal judges, and expanding Medicaid under Obamacare.

Let's remember here that while debates are important, they aren't everything. President Bush did poorly in two of the three debates he had with John Kerry in 2004, he won re-election anyway. In 2008, Mike Huckabee outperformed John McCain in the primary debates, McCain was still nominated. If Bush implodes, which I doubt, it's because of the tea party - which is maybe 20% of the party.

Please stop.

[heatmaster]

One thing for sure, Christie ain't getting the nod.

[Mister Mets]

Christie's probably not going to get Jeb's votes. Jeb is the choice of the crowd that wants sober leadership.

His best shot initially would be Trump fans.

[Maxwell]

Christie's probably not going to get Jeb's votes. Jeb is the choice of the crowd that wants sober leadership.

His best shot initially would be Trump fans.

As opposed to drunken leadership? What are you talking about? "sober leadership" doesn't mean anything.

[Donald Trump 2016 !]

So basically it isn't a Bush implosion that makes Christie likely, it's a Trump implosion.

[Mister Mets]

So basically it isn't a Bush implosion that makes Christie likely, it's a Trump implosion.

Sober means calm and measured.

That's not Christie's brand.

[dudeabides]

Christie is fat

Rand is high.

But is he fat tho?

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/rand_pauls_accuser_clarifies_k.html

Sorry, what was that about Christie's weight?

[heatmaster]

Not really, to many obvious negatives, he'd draw attention away from Trumpster the Dumpster, and that would benefit the other "establishment" candidates, Kasich or Rubio. Christie's shenanigans over Bridgegate, shows he has some troubling Nixonian qualities.

[tgards79]

Christie got into the Fox debate at number 9. He was able to answer questions directly at the Voter's first forum and has a colorful personality to say the least.

Assuming that Bush implodes and Christie breakthrough performances in the debates, can he become the comeback kid that Clinton was in 1992?

It is certainly possible, anything really is...if he can act and speak responsibly and take on Trump as well, it could be a big moment for him.