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Washington — Mayor Bloomberg surprisingly became a cheerleader for a Chris Christie presidential run yesterday, gushing that the New Jersey governor has the best shot against President Obama in 2012.
“He’s been a good governor in New Jersey. He’s shaken things up in a state that’s had problems that have gone on and on and on,” raved Bloomberg, the latest to prod the reluctant Republican governor to join the race.
“Some things he does I agree with. Some things he does I don’t agree with. But if he wants to run, he certainly should just get in there and go do it,” Hizzoner, an independent, told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“I think he would be a credible, formidable candidate,” he added.
Bloomberg even criticized the field of GOP candidates, saying they “obviously don’t have any chance … either to influence the dialogue or to be the nominee.”
The rare praise from Bloomberg comes amid a growing chorus of Republicans urging Christie to run and new reports that Christie is finally starting to think about it. In public, Christie has been unwavering in his determination not to run for the White House.
Bloomberg said he probably wouldn’t outright endorse Christie or any other candidate for president in 2012. He didn’t make an endorsement in 2008, either.
Bloomberg did have encouraging words for Obama. He called the president “a very viable candidate,” although he suggested Obama ’fess up to his economic policy failures.
“Incumbents have a real advantage,” Bloomberg said. “If I were the president, I’d go out there and I’d emphasize the things I have done, and I’d say, ‘Some things haven’t worked, and I’m sorry about that, but I keep trying.’ ”
Bloomberg also criticized Obama’s proposal for a new millionaire tax — nicknamed the “Buffett rule” after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who famously complains that he’s not taxed enough.
“The Buffett thing is just theatrics,” said Bloomberg, a billionaire himself. “What’s good theater is not necessarily good economic policy.”
He suggested a 2 or 3 percent tax hike for everybody, not just the rich.
But White House senior adviser David Plouffe defended Obama’s plan by attacking the GOP presidential contenders.
“So, if we all agree we have to reduce the deficit by about $4 trillion, are we going to cut education by a third, ask seniors to pay $6,000 more in Medicare to pay for $200,000 tax cuts for the millionaires? That’s what, you know, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry and all the Republican congressional leaders want to do,” Plouffe said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Obama kept pushing his plan — which helps pay for his $447 billion American Jobs Act — on a three-day fund-raising tour of the West Coast.
The campaign expected to raise at least $4 million at two events each in Seattle and San Francisco yesterday, followed by one in San Diego and two in Los Angeles today.
As his motorcade drove through Seattle, crowds of people lined the street, including ones with placards reading, “Pres. Obama we love and support you” and “Fair taxation, tax the rich.”
He’ll also rally supporters behind his tax and jobs plans at a town-hall-style meeting in Silicon Valley today. He will cap the trip with a speech in Denver.
Plouffe also previewed Obama’s speech that will tout the jobs plan, which includes more infrastructure spending and an expanded payroll-tax holiday.