WASHINGTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie told a group of Hispanic business owners Wednesday that it’s time for Republicans “to start a new, honest conversation and allow others to express their views” and to reach out to diverse communities.
“We don’t have the luxury of only speaking and listening to those people who voted for us,” Christie said at the Latino Coalition Small Business Summit at the U.S Chamber of Commerce.
“My party, quite frankly, has been guilty in some respects of speaking in a way that doesn’t sound very welcoming to new members,” said the Republican governor, who is mulling a presidential bid.
The second-term Garden State governor said he has been fighting a stereotype that “certain Americans will only vote for certain parties … That’s not true. We have demonstrated that in New Jersey.”
Christie was re-elected to a second term two years ago, with more than half of Latino and women voters choosing him over Democratic challenger Barbara Buono.
Christie said that result “tells you if we change the way we interact with each other, if we change our perspective, even when we disagree, that we can bring people together.”
But the governor’s approval rating hit an all-time low last month in a Monmouth University poll. In addition, according to RealClearPolitics, Christie ranked eighth among announced and potential GOP presidential candidates with just 4.8 percent support from likely Republican voters in an average of national polls.
Christie said Tuesday in New Hampshire that he has his family’s support to run for president and will make up his mind this month whether to mount a campaign. He is heading to Iowa for several campaign-type stops Thursday.
Several attendees said Christie’s message resonated with them.
“He’s certainly saying the right things,” said Rudolph Estrada, lead director of the Board of Directors of East West Bank. “I am a Democrat. There is nothing in his speech I could disagree with.”
“He hit a lot of good points,” said Rosie Arias, a small business owner from California. “The Latino community is definitely looking for someone to stand up on … their behalf. I believe he could be one.”
However, Rebeca Herrero, the publisher of Art Bodega, a luxury bi-monthly magazine, said she was not impressed.
“I thought he lacked that kind of insight into women’s issues,” said Herrero. “That would affect him, especially if he could be a potential presidential candidate running against a woman.”
The Latino Coalition is an advocacy group for Latino business interests. It’s chairman, Hector Barreto, served as head of the Small Business Administration under president George W. Bush, and is a frequent adviser to Republican presidential campaigns.
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