As A VP Option, Christie’s Star May Burn Too Hot

What people in New Jersey like about Gov. Chris Christie is his candor — the sense that he’s speaking from his heart, instead of a script.

Last summer, as Hurricane Irene barreled toward the Jersey shore, the Republican governor offered a particularly memorable moment during a press conference: “Get the hell off the beach in Asbury Park and get out,” he said. “You’re done. It’s 4:30. You’ve maximized your tan. Get off the beach.”

Christie, 49, has a reputation for saying what’s on his mind, even if it’s going to offend some of his constituents. It’s a style he’s deployed at town hall meetings across New Jersey, where he takes questions, often for more than an hour.