Jefferson-Jackson Dinner: Martin O'Malley's incursion into Christie territory

by: Rosi Efthim

Tue Mar 15, 2011 at 03:24:00 PM EDT

O'Malley decries Christie's abusive treatment of public workers, thinks he's a shortsighted, budget-slashing union buster. Calls Christie a hypocrite over his tough budget talk for skipping a $3 billion payment into the state's pension fund and allowing New Jersey property taxes to increase. O'Malley sees Christie's attention-grabbing antics as the stuff of a comedian whose theatrical efforts to poach business from Illinois don't add value to the economy and do nothing to bring people together or solve problems. Christie says O'Malley spews pablum. But I think he knows some of the crass hypocrisy O'Malley calls him on is starting to be noticed by the press and ordinary New Jerseyans, as some of Christie's "magic" wears off and people see past his brash.

This is a collision course that could be instructive. The Democrats have their eye on O'Malley for the White House some day. The Republicans want Christie for the White House, sooner than he plans (watch him demur on cue, like a shy wallflower showing a little leg).

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, a fundraiser for the state Dems, is April 6 in New Brunswick.