Analysis: Christie's Navigation of Gay Marriage Minefield Will Help His Presidential Hopes
By KYW Newsradio special contributor Larry Kane
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- By withdrawing his administration's appeal of the same-sex marriage by a state court (see related story), New Jersey governor Chris Christie may have burnished his political reputation among voters of both major parties.
Christie has always had a mixed record on the subject of gay marriage, at one time urging that a statewide voter referendum should decide the issue.
Now that he has called off his appeal of the Supreme Court decision, he accomplished what he needs for his White House ambitions, trying to take a hot issue in many Republican primaries off the table.
Christie is expected to begin his bid for the presidency mere months after winning what he hopes will be a landslide victory for re-election.
His whole posture since the Republican National Convention last year is to appear moderate enough to win the presidency, but at the same time not irritate conservative Republicans who control the primaries.
To get that big victory in the gubernatorial race, he's hoping that easing off on same-sex marriage will please the Democrats he needs for a landslide.
