Gov. Chris Christie is at the top of a long GOP presidential wish list 鈥 the politician whom many in the establishment wish had run for president in 2012 but didn't.
He鈥檚 incredibly popular in the Republican Party, and 鈥 like Romney 鈥 managed to get himself elected governor of a state that typically votes Democratic (New Jersey in Christie's case).
He has taken on labor unions and has been ruthless in paring New Jersey鈥檚 budget deficit, and he has a lot of the charisma that Romney lacks. Christie could be the opposite of a tea party pick, helping Romney in the tack back to the center that he鈥檚 expected to make before November.
On the other hand, Romney doesn鈥檛 exactly need another Northeasterner on the ticket. And Christie鈥檚 personality could outshine Romney himself. Christie is also someone who clearly likes to be in charge 鈥 one reason, at The New York Times, that governors are so seldom tapped as VP candidates.