Chris Christie TIME.JPG

The new issue of Time magazine, out Friday, featuring Gov. Chris Christie.

(Courtesy of Time magazine)

TRENTON — With re-election in the bag, Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday insisted he wanted to focus on his second-term legislative agenda in Trenton, saying he is "thrilled to have the campaign behind me and to get back to governing."

The political world has different ideas.

In an issue that hits newsstands Friday, Time magazine put him on the cover with the words, "The Elephant in the Room" and with a package of stories asking if he is the savior of the Republican Party.

Network television reporters flocked to New Jersey to ask whether his 22-point win will translate to a national audience.

And, in a sure-fire sign that he's dominating a Republican Party itching to retake the White House, Christie's potential rivals for the 2016 presidential nod coolly downplayed his landslide victory.

"I think we need to understand that some of these races don’t apply to future races," U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida told CNN. "Every race is different. It has a different set of factors. But I congratulate (Christie) on his win."

"All year long, Christie has presented this character he has created as the savior for the Grand Old Party. His point now is that ideas alone don’t win elections. ... From Parsippany to Cape May, Christie’s message, often devoid of policy or ideology, was designed and delivered for national consumption."

With the attention of national media, Christie on Wednsday brushed off 2016 talk and explained his political philosophy, honed over a lifetime in the thick of Jersey politics.

"We won the Latino vote last night," Christie said. "Find another Republican who’s won the Latino vote recently. Why? It’s about the relationships."

Echoing the theme of his acceptance speech, Christie said politicians can’t expect to win votes by showing up in minority communities six months before an election. They have to lay the groundwork with relationships based on trust. Exit polls show the strategy worked: He won 51 percent of Hispanic voters and 21 percent of African Americans.

When Christie takes over as chairman of the Republican Governors Association in two weeks, he’ll apply this vision to the 2014 races. "I can’t speak to how it will translate nationally. I don’t know," he said. "Sometimes I think people make politics too complicated. It’s about personal relationships. I mean personal relationships first and foremost with the voters. Second, with the people you work with each and every day. … Third, with the people in the legislative branch."

Christie strode into the school auditorium with Union City Mayor Brian Stack, a Democrat, by his side. After basking in a standing ovation, Christie thanked Stack, who also won re-election as a state senator.

"When you’re a Republican, you know you’re on your way to a good night when you win Union City by 2,000 votes," Christie said.

Star-Ledger staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

Gov. Christie visits Union City day after winning re-election, Nov. 6, 2013 22 Gallery: Gov. Christie visits Union City day after winning re-election, Nov. 6, 2013

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