Christie veto isn't going to put him on Romney ticket

By Joe Arney

Just a quick post today to give you your weekend news forecast: More stories about how Chris Christie will be on the Mitt Romney ticket in November, followed by the typical flurries of denials of any knowledge or interest in the White House continuing into Monday.

Speculation will kick into high gear following Christie's veto of the state health exchange legislation on Thursday. An examination of his comments shows the governor has no interest marshalling the resources to build up infrastructure while the Supreme Court debates the merits between anticipation-filled games of flip cup, but as insiders will tell you — and anyone else who will listen — this clearly means Christie is making overtures to Romney, who as a Republican is required to campaign while battling a severe case of swine flu, to say, "See? We don't need health care reform! Here I am, shaking hands with thousands of well-to-do Midwesterners who (sneezes, then keels over)."

It's true that Romney coveted Christie's aid on the primary trail. How could he not? He's a Republican from Massachusetts. That's about as conservative as wearing orange to Aunt Betsy's funeral. But now that he finally slew the demons Gingrich, Paul, Santorum, et. al., he needs to appeal to a base that doesn't measure conservatism the way beach volleyball players measure biceps. He's not going to do that with Christie, veto or not. He'll probably use Christie sporadically to shore up the base, but don't expect to see Christie referring to undecided voters as "numbnuts."

At least, not this year.

I'm even more irreverent on Twitter @joe_arney.