CHRISTIE AND REAGAN? – AT 10:36 A.M. ET:  Increasing buzz about Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, who, until last week, said he was adamant about not running for president, but now is reported to be reconsidering.

On Tuesday Christie speaks at the Reagan Library, an ideal time and place to announce his candidacy.  I have no idea whether, after all these months of denial, he will reverse himself. 

Words of caution:  Parties tend to look for the man on the white horse, who will gallop in and slay the opposition.  In 2008 the Republicans waited for Fred Thompson, billed as the new Reagan.  Thompson heard the call, entered, and flopped immediately.  A month or so ago, Republicans looked to Rick Perry, whose white horse was already being washed and watered.  Perry got in, has achieved frontrunner status, and has run into trouble.  Poor debate performance, lack of ability to project beyond Texas.

Now Chris Christie may be mounting up.  Why?  Because he's an effective cost cutter, and has a fast mouth, talking back to anyone who asks him a challenging question.  But Christie has zero foreign-policy experience, is a first-term governor, believes in the Church of the Global Warming, often comes off as a bully rather than a leader, has an odd and disturbing relationship with some Islamic extremists, calls anyone concerned about Sharia law "crazy," and, frankly, is so horribly overweight that his health will become an instant issue.  But he is a good cost cutter. 

Christie has handled some things admirably.  But we are talking here of the American presidency, a gift we simply don't bestow on someone who is neat at budgets.  It takes much more than that.  And here is, I think, an intriguing question:  If some overly enthusiastic Republicans are willing to go with a first-term governor with so little experience beyond local politics, why would they not seek to draft Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, a first-term senator with a remarkable persona and a true wisdom that comes through in every speech he makes?  There is a potential president, and he could defeat Obama.  Christie?  I don't know.

September 25, 2011