Calling himself "the most dangerous man in politics" thanks to what he termed political "near-death experiences," Gov. Chris Christie used his latest Iowa town hall to bash the editorial board of The New York Times, which recently called on Christie to quit the 2016 GOP race
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Saying he's "the most dangerous man in politics" thanks to political "near-death experiences," Gov. Chris Christie used his latest Iowa town hall Friday to bash the editorial board of The New York Times, which this week urged him to quit the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
And he also called himself "warm and very cuddly."
Christie brandished the Times editorial before the 100 or so wedged into Glory Days Sports Bar, and owned it like a badge of honor.
"Here's the thing: I now know I am definitely going to be the next president of the United States," Christie said. "Because they wouldn't ask me to drop out if they weren't worried sick that I might beat their candidate, Hillary Clinton."
Christie said that up until now, polls were not important, and took a veiled swipe at the man who'd led the GOP 2016 pack for most of the summer, Donald Trump.
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"We're at the point where people are going to start getting serious about this race now," said Christie, "It's no longer the summer entertainment season, though we all of enjoyed entertainment from reality TV stars."
Christie later returned to the theme of his pariah status at the New York Times as proof-positive of his bona fide conservative credentials.
Asked which media outlet he considered the most biased in favor of liberalism, Christie called out MSNBC and The New York Times. He then went on to tell how he'd cancelled his New York Times subscription a couple of years ago.
"I did it myself, by the way," said Christie, who said making the call personally was "very liberating."
"It's a lot of fun calling there, especially when the woman finally figured out who it was. You give your address first, and then the name comes up. And then she said, 'Whom am I speaking to?' 'This is Chris Christie.' There was a long pause ... and it was a lot of fun."
Christie, however, admonished the crowd that for all his hard-edged conservatism, he was still pragmatic enough to deliver results, not excuses.
"I know how to fight and how to make a deal," Christie said, before seeking to brush aside concerns that his famous brusqueness might be off-putting to Iowa caucus-goers.
"Although I am from New Jersey," he said. "I am also warm, and very cuddly."
At this image, the crowd erupted into laughter and cheers.
Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser.