Speculation about Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's future plans has consumed the Republican Party's upper echelon since her surprise announcement that she would resign her post effective July 26. One thing is certain, Palin will not be coming to New Jersey to campaign for Republican Christopher Christie in his bid to unseat incumbent Governor Jon Corzine. The Christie campaign brushed aside a suggestion that the former Republican vice presidential nominee might visit the Garden State to lend Christie a hand.
State GOP Chairman Vin Webber said that there have been no contacts between the party and Palin about possibly visiting to campaign for Christie. "We don't have any plans on having her in," Webber said. "We're busy working to get Christie elected and telling people about the failed record of Gov. Corzine." Christie leads Corzine in all the recent polling in the governor's race and does not want to be distracted by national media spotlight that would necessarily come with a visit from the high-profile Palin. His campaign is also likely concerned about Palin's conservative image serving as a deterrent to more moderate and independant voters, to whom Christie has been attempting to appeal to undercut Corzine support.
Those concerns were validated by the Corzine campaign's reaction to the suggestion of a visit from Palin. "Her positions are certainly consistent with where Christie's been," a campaign spokesman said in an attempt to tie Christie to the Alaska governor.
President Barack Obama won New Jersey handily in November over Sen. John McCain and Palin. New Jersey has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988. With a lead in the polls, and low approval ratings for the Democratic governor, the last thing Christie wants to do is remind New Jersey voters of their recent penchant to vote for Democrats. Palin will have an impact on the 2010 Congressional elections and likely has a future in national politics. For the time being, however, the Christie campaign is content to have her remain on the sidelines.
Comments