NY Times spanks Christie for not making it harder on himself to get reelected

The editorial board at the New York Times readily praised New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) when he bucked his own party and met with President Obama just before the 2012 election. That was in November, a long time ago.

Christie pissed off the GOP again when he decided Tuesday that rather than appoint a Republican to fill an open Senate seat in his state, a special election would be held in October. The Times isn't so happy with that decision.

From a Wednesday editorial:

Governor Christie’s assurances on Tuesday that his decision to hold a special election a mere three weeks before the general election is all about giving voters a “choice and a voice” sounded utterly hollow. The only reason to have a separate Senate election is to make certain that no well-known Democrat — very likely Mayor Cory Booker of Newark — will be on the November ballot, possibly luring to the polls more Democrats and minorities, who might also vote for Mr. Christie’s lesser known Democratic opponent, Barbara Buono, a state senator from Middlesex County.

@eScarry