ASBURY PARK, NJ, Nov 6: New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie easily captured a re-election victory seen boosting his widely expected bid for the White House in 2016 as a candidate with appeal across the political spectrum.
The landslide win by the blunt yesterday, tough-talking incumbent was expected by political experts to solidify his national standing, proving he can win votes from Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“It is possible to put doing your job first, to put working together first, to fight for what you believe in yet still stand by your principles and get something done for the people who elected you,” Christie told hundreds of cheering supporters at the Asbury Park convention center.
“I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, DC should tune in their TVs right now and see how it’s done,” he added.
His big win will catch the eye of potential major political donors nationally, political experts said.
“Obviously it lets him make a claim that he’s the kind of Republican who can get Democratic and minority votes,” said David Redlawsk, a polling expert and professor of political science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Christie was projected the winner, within minutes of the polls closing, by CNN, CBS and NBC. He was ahead of his Democratic challenger, state Senator Barbara Buono, by 61 percent to 37 per cent, early results showed, NJ.Com reported.
“He speaks his mind. It’s not all sound bites, which is refreshing,” said Gregory Christie, of Wall, New Jersey, adding he was not related to the governor.
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