This Is the Polar Opposite of an Endorsement

For months, we have wondered how Gov. Chris Christie thinks he can win the presidency when New Jersey is in such rotten shape after his six years in office. Now we may have our answer: The man has lost touch with reality.

— Newark Star Ledger Editorial Board, in an op-ed piece in New Jersey’s largest newspaper. “He needs to pour himself a drink and ask himself the tough question: Why don’t people love me? It could be the rotten job market. Or the high property taxes. Or the crumbling transit system. Or the broken promise on pensions. Or the private jets. Or the Bridgegate indictments. And so on. … It’s no wonder that New Jersey is screaming a warning to the rest of the country. God forbid he gets a chance to make an even bigger mess on a larger stage.”

Walker Claims to Be ‘Most Scrutinized’ Politician in America

They threw $100 million dollars at us over the last four years and all sorts of attacks and I think we’re in a pretty good condition.

— Gov. Scott Walker (R), calling himself “probably the most scrutinized politician in America” as he walked into a meeting with lawmakers in Washington, CNN reports. “Walker touted his electoral track record, having won three elections in four years, including a recall election that he survived — making him the only governor in U.S. history to survive a recall effort.”

Republicans Gaining Confidence in Their Presidential Contenders

57%

Nearly six-in-10 Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters say they have an excellent or good impression of their party’s presidential candidates, according to Pew Research. That compares with 54% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters who have positive impressions of the Democratic Party’s candidates. “Republicans are more positive about the GOP field than they were at nearly comparable points in the past two presidential campaigns.”