Christie's N.J. primary opponent blasts governor's 'hype,' 'big government spin machine'

Steve Lonegan, the head of New Jersey's branch of Americans for Prosperity who lost a surprisingly close primary campaign to now-Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), takes to the op-ed pages to douse the governor's support from national conservatives.

National pundits talk of “spending cuts.” Some enthusiasts have gone as far as starting a “Christie for President” chant. So many words. But as the big government spin machine rolls on, what is really happening? Sweep away the bluster and the attitude, and behind it all is the largest property tax hike New Jersey has ever seen.

He knocks Rush Limbaugh twice, and points out that Christie -- who has to wrestle with a Democratic legislature -- has acquiesced to spending increases and reversals on some planned tax cuts. And really, when I talk to conservatives outside of New Jersey, there's less interest in the details of this than the fact that Christie is attacking the state's unions and sounding great doing so.