Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey and outspoken Republican, paid a visit to Washington D.C. yesterday. The supposed purpose for Christie’s visit was to join in marking the end of the short term of Jeffrey Chiesa. He is the Republican Christie appointed in June to the Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Democrat Frank Lautenberg, according to the LA Times. The notoriously bi-partisan governor then conversed with House GOP members in a closed door meeting on the dire state of things in the nations capitol.

However, reporters baited Christie for his opinion on the government shutdown and recent threat of default, as they were expected to do. At first, he was mum on the subject, but knowing his reputation for grabbing the opportunities to share his opinion that may come his way, all they had to do was…wait for it…

“You know, I don’t think it’s ever good to keep the government closed when your job is to run the government,” he bellowed.

It seems Christie may also have been scouting out his future digs, as he has hinted a time or two about a possible presidential run.

“I can walk and chew gum at the same time. I can do this job and also deal with my future. And that’s what I will do.” Christie said when asked whether he might run for president while serving a second term as governor in his first re-election debate on Tuesday.

Chris Christie has a great record of accomplishment in New Jersey and a popular bi-partisan thing going for him that people respond to. Though some people don’t care for his sometimes all-too-blunt straight talk style, he seems to have a fighting chance.

“He’s got a great record in New Jersey,” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who was part of the meeting with Christie. If he runs for president, “he’d be a very formidable candidate because he could point to a record of accomplishment.”

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