What Went Down At The ABC Republican Debate

That was a top-notch riff against Marco Rubio, and Rubio appeared to be visibly thrown off his game. But what’s notable is that it’s not new – Christie has compared his experience as New Jersey governor to Rubio and Cruz’s role as senators, and he’s offered some very compelling rhetoric in earlier debates. It never seems to make much difference in his public standing. Furthermore, as Harry just pointed out, voters don’t seem to care that much about candidates’ governing experience. This is true in both parties and in the general election, but it seems especially applicable in the current GOP, which is highly skeptical of the idea that government can get things done. This line is pretty unlikely to be persuasive, and a Christie comeback seems far-fetched. Running against Congress is also a little odd if you think about it – sure, it’s unpopular, but this doesn’t seem to have hurt Republicans in actual Congressional elections recently. What’s the goal here? Christie is far enough behind that this strategy is a little baffling. If he’s angling for vice-president, this seems like an odd strategy. An independent run, also unlikely. Running for another office? Becoming Secretary of State? He better hope Rubio doesn’t get the nod in that case.

The dynamic on stage tonight with Marco Rubio is a bit like at the poker table when everyone else is eager to play hands with a certain player because they know he’s on tilt.