Despite his claim earlier today that he has zero interest in running for President, Chris Christie's upcoming tour promoting GOP candidates across the country includes a stop in Iowa to stump for gubernatorial candidate, Terry Brandstad.
Some other stops, via Maggie Haberman's report:
a. Michigan, (stumping for gubernatorial candidate, Rick Snyder).
b. Illinois, (stumping for gubernatorial candidate, Bill Brady).
c. Wisconsin, (stumping for whoever emerges as the GOP nominee for governor).
d. California, (stumping for Meg Whitman).
e. A Sept 21 RGA event.
f. New Mexico, (stumping for gubernatorial candidate, Susana Martinez).
g. Ohio (stumping for gubernatorial candidate, John Kasich).
h. Pennsylvania (stumping for Tom Corbett).
Democratic strategist, Dan Gerstein:
“The Republican Party will need moderate, independent-thinking leaders like Christie who can win in blue states, if they’re going to compete on a level playing field.
The Republican Party needs an antidote to Palinism.”
Now's a good time to bring up Christie's 2012 denial earlier today.
"No, no. Come on. Look at me. Me for President? Come on, seriously. No way. No way.
I mean, I know I've heard all these weasel words that other people use 'Well, I have no plans right now', 'I don't think that would be something I would like to do'.
I'm looking at you: No, ain't happening. Not doing it."
Even though he's unlikely to run in '12 and the Iowa visit is perfectly understandable in the context of his broader help for GOP gubernatorial candidates, Christie has shades of another star who's unlikely to run in '12 -- Scott Brown -- and it's got to be a relief for the GOP to be able to deploy a moderate Republican who's got some "it" quality to him.
