There was at least one reason to welcome all this Chris-Christie-for-president chatter:

It’s refreshing to see the nation get over its fixation on pretty-boy (or -girl) candidates.

Christie doesn’t fall into that category, in case you haven’t noticed. He’s a bit ... large. (Okay, I was trying to be tactful. He’s fat.)

Some people cite his largeness as proof of laziness, self-indulgence, lack of discipline and all other manner of moral failing.

To my mind, if the best argument you can muster against his policies is that he’s fat, you should pack it in. You’ve lost the debate.

Furthermore, I view it as a sign of mental toughness that he goes about his business knowing every time he stands next to a thin person, someone will make a crack about his weight. He’s had a few decades to get used to it, but still.

I’ve also admired his apparent resistance to drastic and/or crazy weight-loss schemes. Sure, Kirstie Alley just dropped 100 pounds — again — but she did it with the help of her new line of organic “appetite suppressants.” Do we really want a political leader who takes that kind of shortcut with his health?

“Teddy Roosevelt — Steer him to dark suits to hide his girth. And get him new glasses.”

It has long bothered me that we choose our nation’s leaders from a group that has already been screened for good looks. Whatever combination of strong ideas, political insights, courage and leadership a candidate possessed, it had better be packaged in a form that was easy on the eyes. (Especially if you’re a woman: No battle-axes allowed.)

But all the buzz around Christie showed something has changed. Chalk it up to maturity, or more likely, desperation.

We’re in a world of hurt these days. Things are a mess. The body politic needs the brainpower of any smart person willing to help — skinny or overweight, tall or short, straight or gay, good-looking or mirrorshattering.

We don’t have the luxury of rejecting the insights of anyone who happens to be even moderately unattractive. So here’s a benchmark for how grim the national mood is these days: We may finally be willing to vote for the “large” guy.

Related coverage:

• Christie sounds like a candidate, but won't say whether he's running for president

• Editorial: Gov Chris Christie for president? We finally believe he won't run