THE WANTING OF CHRIS – AT 10:17 A.M. ET:  Frustrated Republicans, who see the GOP presidential field as having the excitement of a rest home, are trying to nudge others into the race.  There is now a wanting of Mitch Daniels, the very capable but somewhat dull governor of Indiana.  But the real want is Chris Christie, the bombastic, large, loud, and blunt governor of New Jersey, who has made great strides in turning around a state that was almost as dead as the bodies regularly dumped by local fraternal organizations into New Jersey's marshlands.  But will Christie do it?  John Phillips, writing at the L.A. Times's Top of the Ticket blog, has some stimulating thoughts:

Of all of the potential GOP candidates, the serious Republican money men and women want the girl playing hardest to get: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The Garden State Guv says no dice, telling reporters, “Short of suicide, I don't really know what I'd have to do to convince you people that I'm not running. I'm not running.”

Until he rolls a seven, I'm not buying it.

CNN recently reported that Christie met with a group of influential Iowa Republican donors who tried to talk him into running.

Bruce Rastetter, an energy company executive told the Cable News Network, “We want to encourage him from an Iowa perspective and a national perspective. We need a candidate like him in the race...I think the other people are good people, good candidates. Chris Christie is someone who is...unique...and direct.”

If Christie truly has no interest in running, why is he meeting with activists from Iowa instead of watching all of the 'Barefoot Contessa' episodes stored on his TiVO?

It's because Christie wants to be courted.

Think about it, if you want to convince someone to do something they claim they don't want to do, having a never-ending parade of very smart, very wealthy people sweet-talk them into 'saving the country' will do the trick every time. It's the most persuasive route you can take, outside of a rag soaked in chloroform.

If big money donors can eliminate the torturous task of spending 10 hours a day raising money, Christie can spend all of his time on the fun part of campaigning: going on TV, pressing the flesh and eating deep-fat-fried meat products on sticks. As a sweetener, did I mention that he can eat deep-fat-fried meat products on sticks?

COMMENT:  I think Christie is great as governor of New Jersey.  Would he play nationally as a presidential candidate?  Hard to say.  Just as Mitch Daniels may be too quiet, Christie may be too loud.  And did I mention that he tips the scales at "get off before you break the springs"?  If he flies on Air Force One they'd have to add an engine. 

Christie has been losing popularity in his state, the effect of being effective.  If he can be persuaded to jump into the presidential race, he would provide instant theater.  Right now, that can't hurt.

May 20, 2011