She doesn’t have the fashion flair of Michelle Obama, the charisma of Laura Bush or the in-your-face confidence of Hillary Rodham Clinton — but Mary Pat Christie has the substance to be a great first lady.
If New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie makes it to the White House, his wife would emerge as one of the most forceful voices in his administration, sources close to the Garden State first couple said.
Like Hillary, Michelle and Laura, Mary Pat has her husband’s ear — and isn’t afraid to tell him what she thinks.
“Mary Pat Christie is extremely smart, politically knowledgable, and a great sounding board, “ said one source.
“She is not one to back down from an issue.”
Mary Pat’s approach, observers said, is less high-profile Hillary and more behind-the-scenes Laura or Michelle, observers said.
During Christie’s gubernatorial run, for instance, Mary Pat — who favors sensible shoes, slacks, blazers and wool sweaters — was rarely in front of a microphone.
Instead, she was backstage, actively participating in staff meetings, conference calls and strategy sessions.
She also was in charge of fundraising — working the phones and her own business Rolodex and putting together events to raise money for Christie’s campaign.
As governor, Christie has openly talked about his wife’s influence on his decisions.
When the governor pulled out of the $8.7 million Hudson River tunnel project, he noted that his wife had lobbied him against the venture.
She said it was “crazy’’ that the Manhattan station was to be built under Macy’s — and didn’t connect to Penn Station or a subway line.
Like the former and current presidential spouses, the Garden State’s first lady has an advanced college degree and built her own successful career.
She works as a senior vice president in Cantor Fitzgerald’s bond unit, and dedicates much of her free time to pet causes.
But Mary Pat has made it clear that her kids and family are her top priority, a trait she shares with both Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.
A Pennsylvania native who was the ninth of 10 kids in a close-knit Irish Catholic family, Mary Pat met her husband when they were undergrads at the University of Delaware.
Married 25 years, they have four children.
Mary Pat originally thought a presidential run would have a detrimental effect on the Christie family, said a source.
But a recent phone call from another first lady, Barbara Bush, encouraged her, a source said.
Barbara reassured Mary Pat that the challenge is manageable.
“She is willing to tolerate the campaign for the end result of her husband moving into the Oval Office,’’ said a family source.