By Tim Alberta, National Journal - October 22, 2014

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie launched a preemptive strike Tuesday against some potential Republican rivals for the White House, saying the "experiment" of promoting a lawmaker to president has failed—and arguing that Republicans must nominate a governor in 2016.



Christie, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, began his speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington by lauding his counterparts across the country. Then he turned on a dime, pivoting in apparently premeditated fashion from 2014 to 2016. He urged attendees to support GOP governors this fall—not only to help them win reelection, he said, but to build a roster of credible presidential contenders.