--- ---  # Chris Christie Gets Some Good News, But Is It Enough?  by [Philip Elliott](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Nov 29, 2015 6:23 PM UTC  Republican presidential candidate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during the Sunshine Summit conference being held at the Rosen Shingle Creek on November 14, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. Republican presidential candidate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during the Sunshine Summit conference being held at the Rosen Shingle Creek on November 14, 2015 in Orlando, Florida.Joe Raedle—Getty Images  by [Philip Elliott](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Nov 29, 2015 6:23 PM UTC The New Hampshire _Union Leader_ just became the most popular newspaper in New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie earned the coveted [endorsement](http://www.unionleader.com/For-our-safety,-our-future:-Chris-Christie-for-President) from the newspaper on Sunday, an important nod for his struggling presidential campaign. But it alone is unlikely to steady a bid that, despite technically solid campaign operations and an unquestionably professional staff, has yet to have its moment. “Gov. Chris Christie is exactly the conservative Republican needed to take the fight to Hillary Clinton next fall and then get about the serious business of defending us and rebuilding our economy,” _Union Leader_ Publisher Joseph W. McQuaid wrote in a Page One editorial in Sunday’s editions. The signed endorsement more importantly suggests the road in New Hampshire will be rough for Christie’s rivals. Without naming them, the newspaper compared President Obama with Republicans now seeking the GOP nomination: Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky. “We don’t need another fast-talking, well-meaning freshman U.S. senator trying to run the government. We are still seeing the disastrous effects of the last such choice,” the newspaper wrote. The paper also took a swing at three political neophytes in the mix: real estate mogul Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and former tech executive Carly Fiorina. “We don’t need as President some well-meaning person from the private sector who has no public experience,” the paper wrote. Given the paper’s [previous criticism ](http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150721/OPINION01/150729852&source=RSS)of Trump, it’s doubtful the editors are including the billionaire in the mix of “well-meaning” contenders. In New Hampshire, the _Union Leader_’s clout means less now than it did during its heyday, when it represented one of the most conservative and influential editorial pages in the country. Under the leadership of William Loeb, the _Union Leader_ helped pick Governors, destroy presidential contenders and shift New Hampshire rightward for more than 30 years. His widow, Nackey, picked up that mantle before it passed to McQuaid, albeit with dwindling national impact beyond presidential primaries. **Read More:** [_Chris Christie Proves His Mettle in Undercard_](http://time.com/4107629/republican-debate-chris-christie/) Still, the paper continues to have sway that papers in any other state covet. It’s why, ahead of his second White House run, Mitt and Ann Romney hosted McQuaid for a private dinner to make the case for this 2012 bid. If the Union Leader weren’t to endorse Romney—and it was not to be—Romney want wanted at least a veneer of détente. Please, they asked, at least give him a shot before eviscerating him as a Massachusetts flip-flopper. On the day Romney declared his national campaign on a Seacoast-area farm, the newspaper made brief mention of it on Page One. The top political story that day was former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s visit to New Hampshire. And there is why the _Union Leader_ matters: when the newspaper decides a candidate is unacceptable, its targets should brace. Advisers to John McCain’s 2008 bid credit the _Union Leader_ for destroying Romney’s bid that year in New Hampshire, on both the news and editorial pages. The same happened four years later. The paper picked former House Speaker Newt Gingich as its favorite. Gingrich finished fifth place in the state’s primary, but the newspaper was merciless in trying to clear the way for him. And that’s what Christie needs right now: a dedicated attack dog that allows him to continue to stick with his message of a respectable Governor, straight-talking candidate and [tough-on-terrorism ](http://time.com/4125015/chris-christie-prosecutor-republican-terrorism/)former U.S. Attorney. With the _Union Leader_ in his corner, he can spend his time—and money—building up his own brand and leader the newspaper to destroying likely rivals such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and the charismatic trio of current first-term Senators. Indeed, those three seem to be the Union Leader’s top worry. Christie’s advisers in New Jersey, however, should not expect clear sailing to a win in New Hampshire. While Christie has spent an impressive number of days in the state—he has made [113 stops](http://www.necn.com/news/politics/New-Hampshire-Candidate-Tracker-295977311.html) in the state, second only to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 163— he has not yet caught fire. A Suffolk University [poll](https://www.suffolk.edu/documents/SUPRC/11%5F23%5F2015%5Ftables.pdf) released last week shows Christie stuck at 4%. **Read More:** [_Chris Christie Highlights Glory Days at Campaign Launch_](http://time.com/3940903/chris-christie-campaign-launch-glory-days/) The _Union Leader_ alone won’t change that. If history is a guide, Christie should expect a burst in the next polls taken after the newspaper’s nod. But there are limits to what the newspaper can do. Nate Silver, then with the New York _Times_, took a [look](http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/newspapers-endorsement-has-been-leading-indicator-in-new-hampshire/?%5Fr=0) at the power of the _Union Leader_ back in 2011 and found it potent but not predictive. Still, for Christie, he will take any nod he can get. He’s one of the hardest-working candidates in New Hampshire and has made a credible case for his candidacy. With roughly 10 weeks left before New Hampshire votes in its leadoff primary calendar, it is up to him to figure out how to tap this boomlet, especially among conservatives who take their cues from the storied newspaper. “Gov. Christie is right for these dangerous times. He has prosecuted terrorists and dealt admirably with major disasters,” McQuaid wrote. “But the one reason he may be best-suited to lead during these times is because he tells it like it is and isn’t shy about it.” It’s almost as if the newspaper were writing copy for coming Christie campaign ads. **Read Next:** [_Chris Christie Takes Aim at Political Novices in GOP Field_](http://time.com/4126503/chris-christie-council-foreign-relations-newness/) ### See Chris Christie's Life in Photos  Chris Christie as an infant in 1963. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  The Christie family, from left to right, Todd, Dawn, and Chris, with mom, Sondra in an undated photo. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  The Christie family, from left to right, Dawn, Todd and Chris, with mom, Sondra and dad, Bill in Singer Island, Fla., in 1974. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  An undated photo of Chris Christie, who played catcher for the Livingston High School varsity baseball team. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Chris Christie's senior class photo and profile from Livingston High School's yearbook in 1980. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Livingston High School's yearbook profile on Chris Christie in 1980. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  An early photo of Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat where the couple met at the University of Delaware. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Chris Christie and Mary Pat on their wedding day in 1986. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Chris Christie, left, is sworn as freeholder, by Senator Joseph Kyrillos, Jr., as Christie’s wife Mary Pat holds the bible and their son Andrew during the Morris County Board of Freeholders reorganization meeting in Morristown, N.J. Patti Sapone—Star-Ledger  The Governor Chris Christie and his family in 1994. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Chris Christie and his wife Mary Pat at the inauguration of former president George W. Bush in Washington on Jan. 20, 2001. Courtesy of Governor Chris Christie  Chris Christie, center, answers a question on the steps of U.S. District Courthouse in Newark, N.J. on Aug. 13, 2003. Mike Derer—AP  New Jersey Republican nominee for Governor Chris Christie (C) and his running mate Sheriff Kim Guadagno (L) make some phone calls to voters at Monmouth County Republican Headquarters in Freehold, N.J. on Nov. 2, 2009. Hiroko Masuike—Getty Images  New Jersey Governor-elect Chris Christie and wife Mary Pat wave to election-night supporters at Christie's victory celebration in Parsippany, N.J. on Nov. 3, 2009. Stephen Chernin—Getty Images  Governor Chris Christie spends time with his daughter Bridget during Take Our Kids to Work Day in Trenton, N.J. on April 22, 2010. Matt Rainey—Star-Ledger  Talk-show host Oprah Winfrey poses with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, during a live broadcast of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Sept. 24, 2010, in Chicago. Harpo Productions/AP  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lays a white rose on wreckage pulled from Ground Zero during the memorial dedication to the Empty Sky Memorial at Liberty State Park on Sept. 10, 2011 in Jersey City, N.J. Andrew Burton—Getty Images  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, center, touches the stones of the Western Wall during his visit to Jerusalem's old city, April 2, 2012. Sebastian Scheiner—AP  President Barack Obama tours 1 World Trade Center with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, center, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, in New York City on, June 14, 2012. Doug Mills—The New York Times/Redux  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie kisses his wife, Mary Pat, at an appearance with the Michigan delegation at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2012. Max Whittaker—The New York Times/Redux  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaks during the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla, on Aug. 28, 2012. Stan Honda—AFP/Getty Images  Mitt Romney, Republican presidential candidate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Bob White, left, a Romney adviser, on Romney's campaign bus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Oct. 10, 2012. Jim Wilson—The New York Times/Redux  Governor Chris Christie, Seth Meyers on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update on Nov. 11, 2012. NBC/Getty Images  Governor Chris Christie and President Barack Obama hold a press conference after taking an ariel tour of the damage in New Jersey from Hurricane Sandy and and talking to residents in Brigantine, N.J. on Oct. 31, 2012. Tim Larsen—Governor's Office  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie comforts Kerri Berean whose home was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in Little Ferry, N.J., on Nov. 3, 2012. Tim Larsen—Governor's Office/Reuters  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie appeared on "Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2012," which aired Dec. 12, 2012. Ida Mae Astute—ABC/Getty Images  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie departs after giving his State of the State address in the assembly chamber in Trenton, N.J. on Jan. 8, 2013\. Christie renewed his calls to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday to quickly pass the full $60.4 billion Superstorm Sandy relief package, saying victims in New Jersey had been short-changed. Carlo Allegri—Reuters  Gov. Chris Christie fixes his tie in his offfice before delivering his State Of The State address at the Statehouse, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, in Trenton, N.J. Edward Keating—Contact for TIME  US President Barack Obama and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (L) walk along the boardwalk as they view rebuilding efforts following last year's Hurricane Sandy in Point Pleasant, N.J. on May 28, 2013. Saul Loeb—AFP/Getty Images  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie celebrates his re-election in Asbury Park, N.J., on Nov. 5, 2013. 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