Christie-Martinez ticket in 2016?

The final national figure to campaign for Chris Christie’s re-election in New Jersey will be New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

Martinez is not only her state’s first female governor, but also the first Hispanic female governor in the entire country.

The Star-Ledger notes that Martinez represents Christie’s concerted effort to reach out to Hispanics.  Campaign spokesman Kevin Roberts even delivers a quote that the Martinez visit “makes another statement about what we are doing and the non-traditional support we are gaining.”

The images of Christie and Martinez together Monday will only conjure up thoughts of a possible 2016 ticket.

If Christie is the nominee, it’s highly unlikely he’d select one of his insurgent rivals like Sens. Rand Paul or Ted Cruz as his running mate. Given his thematic of being able to win big in a blue state, Martinez falls right into the sweet spot.  Furthermore, if he’s locked in a battle with Hillary Clinton, the pressure to seriously consider a female running mate will be palpable.  Given her own record and political profile, Martinez will likely end up on Christie’s short list.

Martinez is only the second national politician to join Christie in Jersey; the other was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.  It’s fascinating to contrast the two blue-state, more moderate Christie surrogates of Martinez and Giuliani with the rest of the 2016 pack who saddled up for Ken Cuccinelli’s likely losing effort in Virginia.

Cuccinelli brought in Sens. Paul and Marco Rubio along with Govs. Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker.  Granted, Cuccinelli was more in the need of cavalry, given his underdog political position.

But Christie’s campaign partners are instructive with regards to saying something more about who he is comfortable associating himself with — moderates who represent the diverse, big tent Republican Party rationale.

And the 2016 atmospherics may just make Martinez an option that’s too good to resist.

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