REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Here's a preview of what's to come: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), fresh off a dominating re-election victory in a blue state, used his victory speech to tear into Washington, D.C.
"Tonight dispirited America, angry with their dysfunctional government in Washington, looks to New Jersey," Christie told a crowd of supporters Tuesday night in Asbury Park, N.J., after garnering about 60% of the vote and making huge inroads with minorities.
Like many of the speeches he gave on the campaign in recent days, it sounded like the start of a campaign for president.
" That wasn't an acceptance speech," Republican strategist Alex Castellanos said on CNN. "That was an announcement speech."
Christie's win was the lone national bright spot for Republicans on a night that saw Democrat Terry McAuliffe win the governor's race in purple-state Virginia and Bill de Blasio become New York City's first Democratic mayor-elect in two decades.
On this night, New Jersey voted 22 points more Republican than did Virginia.
Christie won 55% of women (+10 from 2009), 20% of the black vote (+10), and 48% of the Hispanic vote (+11), according to the exit polling. He won among all age groups except 18-to-29-year-olds, which he lost by only 6 points. He also captured 31% of the Democratic vote (+an astounding 23 points from 2009) and 64% of the independent or unaffiliated (+4).
And Christie conveyed that message simply.
" If we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, D.C. should tune in their TVs right now," he said.
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