If that’s how it plays out. There won’t be a backlash in New Jersey because same-sex marriage is popular there. What was unpopular is the fact that Christie opposed it at every turn. The question is what will happen in the 2016 primaries.
Except they didn’t veto bills that would have legalized it and didn’t sue to stop recognition of same-sex marriage from going forward.
I’m not sure about that. Liberals who aren’t paying attention might think he just did something to support same-sex marriage and conservatives will probably think it’s really the courts’ fault.
Like I said before, though, liberals don’t vote in Republican primaries, and the Tea Partiers who DO will most definitely be shepherded toward the more negative interpretation of this move. Christie has to get THROUGH the Repub primaries before he can get to the general, where his faux-moderation might garner him a lot of independents and disaffected liberals. If he doesn’t get through the primary gate, he’s not GOING to the general. And Romney gave the Coocoo Caucus more than enough reason to double down and make absolutely SURE there’s not a whiff of moderation in their 2016 candidate.