With Chris Christie’s predictable victory in New Jersey tonight, and with Ken Cuccinelli likely falling short by a reasonably small margin, the Evening Meme of the punditocracy is set:

The combination of outcomes in New Jersey and Virginia – a certain GOP win in the former and a likely Democratic win in the latter – could strengthen the hand of Republicans who have argued that the party must embrace a more centrist-friendly, reform-minded brand of conservatism, rather than the hard-edged activism of the tea party.

Yeah, it’s Christie Time for the MSM.

Our ideas can save democracy... But we need your help! Donate Now!

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.