Chris Matthews: GOP 'not crazy, they're not going to run a right-winger' in 2016

During a discussion on the scandal engulfing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, MSNBC's Chris Matthews predicted on ABC's "The View" Tuesday that in 2016, Republicans will nominate a moderate presidential candidate, as they did in 2008 and 2012.

"The Republican Party, no matter what you think of it, rarely runs a right-winger," Matthews said. "They tend, in the end, running a McCain or a Romney. In the end, they get practical because they really want that White House. ... Republicans are not crazy. They're not going to run a right-winger. I think Christie would have been a hell of a candidate before this mess."

Matthews specifically mentioned conservative Republican Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) as potential candidates who would "not become president."